Launch of Sugamya Pusthakalaya (Accessible Online Library) in India

24^th September, 2016 marks a historic milestone for people with print disabilities in India. DAISY India, in partnership with Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment and powered by TCS Access Infinity has launched Sugamya Pustakalaya (Accessible Digital Library) which provides opportunity to blind and print disabled people to have access to wide range of publications including study material, fiction, non-fiction etc.,

About Sugamya Pustakalaya

If you are looking for books accessible to the blind, people with low vision or to persons with any other print disability, this library of libraries is your one-stop shop.

Sugamya Pustakalaya is a collaborative effort of several organizations to end the book famine faced by people with print disabilities.

Here, you can access books in diverse languages from various libraries across India. We have also partnered with international agencies like Bookshare and Accessible Books Consortium to provide you with accessible books from all over the world.

Users can access a collection of over 2, 30,000 books, maintain their individual reading shelves online and also download books in chosen formats.

Sugamya Pustakalaya is a facilitating platform for producers of accessible content to jointly work in producing and providing accessible books to people with print disabilities.

Publishers can also collaborate with us to publish their content in accessible format

As we speak, there are about 2,33,095 accessible books are availabel for download; these books are contributed by DFI member organizations and Bookshare.

A Press release is available on PIB Website.

Thank you both digital and print media for wide range of publicity on this. Below are links to some media coverage:

• India launches online library with over 2 lakh books for persons with print disabilities – YourStory
• Sugamya Pustakalaya – Universal Coaching Centre – UCC India
• Sugamya Pustakalaya for Print disabled people – Times of India
• Govt launches Sugamaya Pustakalaya for disabled – Millinion Post
• Sugamya Pustakalaya – Odisha Story

Below is a video that explains features of Sugamya Pustakalaya:

Deep sense of appreciation to Mr. Dipendra Manocha, Mr. Prashant Verma, Prof. Sam Taraporewalla and each individual and organizations who have put in tireless efforts to make accessible digital library a reality. Long way to go!