The innovative facility was inaugurated by Shri Rajesh Aggarwal, Secretary of the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (DEPwD), under the Union Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment. Also present were Ms. Manmeet Kaur Nanda, Joint Secretary, DEPwD, and Shri Pradeep Anirudhan, Director of NIEPVD.

Designed as a completely dark room, ‘Antar Drishti’ allows visitors to momentarily step into the world of those with visual impairments. Through sensory-focused activities in a pitch-dark environment, participants can better understand the challenges faced by individuals who are blind or have low vision. The initiative seeks to foster empathy, societal awareness, and deeper inclusion.

In a parallel move to promote inclusive technology, NIEPVD also signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Amar Seva Sangam, a reputed organization engaged in disability rehabilitation and inclusive development. The MoU marks a key step toward integrating the ‘Enable Inclusion’ App—a digital tool developed by Amar Seva Sangam—into NIEPVD’s programming.

The app facilitates early identification, intervention, and tracking of children with developmental disabilities. With NIEPVD’s inputs, the platform will now include specialized features addressing the needs of persons with visual impairments.

“This digital collaboration will boost access to early intervention and rehabilitation services for children with disabilities across the country,” said Shri Rajesh Aggarwal at the event. “The vision is to make inclusive development tech-driven and accessible to all.”

The enhanced app is expected to streamline tele-counseling, personalized service delivery, and rehabilitation planning, setting a national benchmark for inclusive practices.

While no project value was disclosed, initiatives like these signal the growing investment in technology-driven inclusion and are aligned with DEPwD’s national vision for holistic development of persons with disabilities.