Jai Prakash Agarwal has endorsed EconReads’ accessibility petition, which has received more than 5,400 signatures, and supported its fundraising campaign for visually impaired students
New Delhi: Veteran parliamentarian and five-time Member of Parliament Jai Prakash Agarwal has backed teenage social entrepreneur Advik Bansal’s mission to improve educational accessibility and financial literacy for visually impaired students.
Agarwal recently met Bansal, founder of EconReads, to discuss challenges faced by people with visual impairments in accessing education, financial information and digital resources.
During the meeting, Agarwal endorsed EconReads’ petition seeking stronger accessibility measures for visually impaired students. The campaign has collected more than 5,400 signatures.
He also supported EconReads’ fundraising initiative. The initiative aims to provide educational resources and essential equipment to schools serving visually impaired students.
The meeting also recognised Bansal’s work in accessibility and financial education. Agarwal presented him with the Youth Gandhi Award for Service for his efforts to promote equal opportunities for people with visual impairments.
Agarwal also discussed how grassroots campaigns can influence institutional reforms and contribute to policy-level change.
EconReads Expands Accessible Financial Education
Through EconReads, Bansal has created an accessible curriculum covering economics and financial literacy. The programme currently includes 263 lessons across 26 modules and has been introduced in nine schools for blind students across Asia.The initiative is supported by 87 volunteers across six countries and is raising funds to provide essential educational equipment to partner schools in India.
Bansal said accessibility should not become a political or ideological issue. He stressed that visually impaired people deserve equal access to education, technology and opportunities.
“Accessibility is not a partisan issue. The opportunity to learn, participate, and live with dignity should not depend on whether someone can see a screen,” said Bansal.
Agarwal’s endorsement comes as EconReads expands its international educational initiatives while continuing its fundraising and accessibility advocacy efforts in India.
What started as a teenage initiative to address gaps in financial education has now developed into a broader campaign focused on accessible education, financial literacy, inclusion and equal opportunities for visually impaired people.
