Vidya distributes ‘Smartcanes’

Aactor Vidya Balan during the launch and distribution of SmartCane and Plextalk Vachak function by The Xavier’s Resource Centre for the Visually Challenged (XRCVC), St. Xavier’s college, Mumbai.

Bollywood actor and alumnus of St Xaviers’ College, Mumbai, Vidya Balan handed over the devices to the students. “This device will now integrate visually impaired into the mainstream and make them more independent,” she said.

SmartCane has been developed jointly by the Assistive Technologies Group at IIT Delhi, Phoenix Medical Systems and NGO Saksham Trust, with funding received from the Welcome Trust (UK). The Xavier’s Resource Centre for the Visually Challenged (XRCVC) of St Xavier’s College (Mumbai) in association with Saksham Trust and IIT Delhi in conjunction with the National Institute for the Visually Handicapped (NIVH) today distributed SmartCane to 50 students under the ADIP scheme of the Department of Disability Affairs, Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment.