Vizag police receive AP's first complaint in Braille script from visually impaired person
This is the first such complaint where a First Instance Report (FIR) is filed based on a complaint written in Braille under the ‘Disha Divyang Suraksha (DDS)’ programme.
- Andhra Pradesh
JBS Umanadh- Updated On:30 March 2024 11:55 AM GMT
VISAKHAPATNAM: Visakhapatnam city police have created a record of sorts by allowing a visually impaired person to make a complaint in Braille script. This is the first such complaint where a First Instance Report (FIR) is filed based on a complaint written in Braille under the ‘Disha Divyang Suraksha (DDS)’ programme.
It was on March 15, 2024, that the visually impaired person from Jalluru village of Koturatla mandal, Anakapalle in his complaint alleged that a financial company cheated him to the tune of Rs 2.9 lakh and another Rs 11 lakh from his associate in Kakinada.
In the complaint, he mentioned that the finance company was located at the Botcha Square at Birla Junction in Vizag. Based on the complaint an FIR was registered and an investigation was launched by the city police.
Inclusive criminal justice system
The Vizag police made the criminal justice system more accessible and inclusive with this initiative, where complainants with disabilities could register their complaints in Braille, a script that they would be comfortable expressing their problems.
The DDS programme the brainchild of Additional Director General of Police (DGP), Commissioner of Police, and Additional District Magistrate, A Ravi Shankar was launched on December 1, 2023.
The programme is aimed at addressing the concerns of visually and hearing-impaired individuals. Two toll-free numbers are made available for both the visually (7337324466) and hearing impaired (737434422) which are linked with the main police control room.
Complainants can call these numbers where translators and a writer with knowledge of Braille will be available to prepare a complaint. Vizag police informed that so far 106 calls have been received through these dedicated numbers from Visakhapatnam city and other parts of the district.
In addition to this dedicated facility for the differently abled, the Commissioner of Police also conducts a Dail Your CP programme every 2nd and 15th of every month where people with disabilities with the help of language interpreters and sign language.
