VIDYA VRIKSHAH

Established in 1998,Vidya Vrikshah is committed to the free sharing of knowledge, especially to the physically and socially disadvantaged. It brings computer-based education and skills, in all Indian languages, free of cost, to the the visually handicapped. Courses for instructors and volunteers (from training or service institutions) are also organised, to enable them to train the visually handicapped in the use of computers in Indian languages.

The software package designed and developed by the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Chennai, has the facility whereby keyboard controls are provided to help visually handicapped users to navigate the screen for entering or editing text that is already entered. Normal printouts for use by the sighted and Braille outputs for use by the visually impaired are possible in any Indian language or in English Braille. The keyboard input is echoed as speech, (letter-by-letter, word-by-word, or line-by-line) or the entire text is read out in the language used for entry.

The organisation compiles high quality educational and training material in all languages, for free dissemination to homes, literacy centres and schools. Major manuscripts and inscriptions have been translated in English, to reach people in all parts of the world.

About 100 volunteers, from all age groups, extend their service, free of charge. (A few are visually impaired, but have distinguished themselves in exemplary ways). The volunteers compile all the material and conduct training programmes. This is disseminated through computers, television or cable network.

The organisation's web site contains a large number of compilations prepared by volunteers. The site contains scriptures translated into Indian languages, like word-by-word translation of verses from the Upanishads, Thirukkural, Ramayanam and Mahabharatham. The attractive part of the site is that it contains details of carnatic ragas and all of them are sound-enabled. It also contains detailed explanation of important mathematical theorems, in all languages.

All activities at Vidya Vrikshah are conducted with revenue generated through donations. The organisation accepts donations which are exempted from tax under 80 G of the Income Tax Act.

Address: N.Krishnaswamy, 9, Tiruveedi Amman Street, Rama Krishna Nagar, Chennai 600 028.
Phone: 493 7926
Fax: 493 6358.
URL: http://www.vidyavrikshah.org

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