(a) Postage
Payment of postage, both inland and foreign, for transmission by post of Blind Literature packets is exempted if sent by surface route only. If packets are to be sent by air, prescribed air mail charges should be paid.
The relevant rule from the Post Office Guide is reproduced below:
Exemption from Postal Fees
- ‘Blind Literature’ packets are exempted from the payment of postage and also for (i) registration fee, (ii) fee for acknowledgement, and (iii) fee for the attested copy of the receipt.
- Postage free ‘Blind Literature’ packets will be transmitted by surface route only, and if they are to be sent by air, the air mail charge as prescribed for packets has to be paid.
Contents and Conditions of Posting
Papers any kind, periodicals and books printed in Braille or other special type for the use of the blind may be transmitted by post as ‘Blind Literature’ packets provided that they are posted in accordance with the following conditions:
Plates bearing the characters of writing, sound records for the use of the blind, and discs, films, tapes and wires on which spoken message for the blind have been recorded, when sent by, or addressed to, an officially recognised institution for the blind, shall also be treated as ‘Blind Literature’
- The packets shall consist only of articles specially impressed as described above for the use of the blind, and shall not contain any communication either in writing or printed in ordinary type, except the title and table of contents of the book or periodical and any key to, or instructions for the use of special type, or any enclosure except a level for the return of the packet.
- The packet shall bear on the outside the inscription ‘Literature for the Blind’ and the written or printed name and address of the sender.
- The packet shall be posted without a cover, or in cover open at both ends, which can easily be removed for the purpose of examination.
- No ‘Blind Literature’ packet may weigh more than 7 kg.
- ‘Blind Literature’ packets are subject to the same limits of dimensions as printed papers.
Penalty for Breach of Condition
Should any of the conditions mentioned above be infringed, the packet (unless it is admissible as an ordinary packet) will be charged on delivery with letter or parcel postage, whichever may be less.
Rule 304, 305 and 306 in regard to definition of ‘Blind Literature’ Conditions and Exemption from Postal fees in respect of Foreign postage are the same as prescribed in rule 129 and 130 in regard to Inland Postage. However, the penalty for breach of conditions in respect of foreign postage is specified under rule 307—Penalty for Breach of Conditions:
‘Blind Literature’ packets which contain any note or document having the character of actual and personal correspondance, or which are not made up in such a manner as to admit of easy examination of the contents, or which contain postage stamps, form of pre-payment whether obliterated or not or paper representing any value, or which infringe any of the foregoing conditions will not be forwarded, but will be returned to the sender and will be charged on delivery with letter or parcel postage at the internal postage rate whichever is applicable. If the sender wishes to report the article after complying with the necessary conditions, he may do so. It is permissible in such cases to use the original wrapper, but the use of a fresh wrapper is preferable and is recommended.
(b) Telecommuncation
Concessional Telephone Connection to Blind Persons
It has been decided to provide telephone facility to blind persons on concession and priority basis on the following terms:
Rental Rebate—50 percent of the normal rental.
Advance Rental—50 percent of the annual advance rental and bi- monthly rental as applicable to a private subscriber. This facility is available in Non-OYT (S) category only.
(c)Preference in Allotment of STD/PCO to Handicapped Persons
Educated unemployed persons are eligible for allotment of STD/PCOs.
The educational qualification for the applicant is:
– VIIIth or Middle School Pass for rural areas.
– Atleast Matriculation or High School for urban areas.