Odisha: Students urge Naveen Patnaik for audio study materials

BHUBANESWAR: The students of Odisha State Open University (OSOU) Sambalpur, along with a social worker, have requested chief minister Naveen Patnaik to ensure adequate audio study materials at the institution, which lacks enough content in its library for visually-impaired learners.
"Some visually-challenged students pursue different courses at the university. Though they get textbooks, it is difficult for them to use such materials. It is not possible for them to request others every time they want to read a textbook," said a student.
"I am a Plus-III third-year student at the university. Few weeks ago before the fourth semester exam, I received study materials in English instead of Odia despite being an Odia-medium student. It was difficult for me to understand the language. The university does not have sufficient audio materials for history," said a visually-challenged student.
Activist Sushanta Kumar Sahoo conveyed the students' demand to the Odisha chief minister, higher education secretary Bishnupada Sethi and OSOU vice-chancellor Arka Kumar Das Mohapatra by writing a letter. "If the institution uploads enough content of all subjects on its website, visually-challenged students can access them," the letter read.