Question: Braille Atlas has been recently launched by …
(a) Ministry for Science & Technology and Earth Sciences
(b) Ministry of Social Justice and Welfare
(c) Youth Affairs Ministry
(d) None of the above.
Ans: (a)
- On 10th February, 2017, The Union Minister for Science & Technology and Earth Sciences Dr. Harsh Vardhan released the Special Edition of “Atlas for Visually Impaired (India)” in English Braille in New Delhi.
- This Braille Atlas has been prepared by National Atlas and Thematic Mapping Organisation (NATMO) under Department of Science & Technology.
- These atlases will be distributed to various schools across the country for educating the students with visual challenges.
- The atlas has 20 maps on different themes like physical, socio-economic, river system, crops pattern, natural vegetation, cultural, metropolitan areas, roads and railways, and crops.
- The Braille atlas has been made using indigenously developed silk-screen painting technology.
- In the Braille Atlas, maps are raised and embossed with simple lines and point symbols to facilitate its users to realize the location and area coverage easily distinguishable in terms of shapes and textures.
- This Atlas has been bestowed with National award for S&T intervention in empowering the physically challenged by the Prime Minister on 3rd January, 2017 in Indian Science Congress held in Tirupati.
- What is NATMO?
- National Atlas and Thematic Mapping Organisation (NATMO) is the premier agency of applied Geo-Spatial technology and pioneer in Thematic Mapping and Atlas Cartography under Department of Science & Technology (Ministry of Science & Technology) engaged in preparing different thematic maps and atlases and other documents on national, state, district, block level and many other monograms.
Reference:
http://pib.nic.in/newsite/PrintRelease.aspx?relid=158369
http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/first-comprehensive-braille-atlas-prepared/1/879796.html