BERHAMPUR: Noted educationist and visually-impaired professor Kamakshya Prasad Dash of Rayagada has been selected to receive the President’s award for his outstanding contribution to inclusive education and empowerment of children with disabilities.
As per an official communication from the Rashtrapati Bhavan, the award will be conferred on Dash by President Droupadi Murmu on the occasion of Independence Day.
Throughout his life, Dash worked towards bringing visually-impaired children, including those from tribal and underserved areas, into the mainstream through various educational reforms and capacity-building programmes.
He served as the director of inclusive education of the state government where he played a pivotal role in formulating and implementing initiatives aimed at improving educational access for children with disabilities. Prior to his retirement in 2024, Dash served as an assistant professor in history at the Government College, Koraput.
Born in Paralakhemundi in Gajapati district, Dash lost his eyesight at the tender age of seven. However, he did not let the disability define his future and went on to complete his higher studies in history from Paralakhemundi, Berhampur and Bhubaneswar before dedicating his life to the cause of inclusive education.
This contribution to the society is not limited to education alone. The 62-year-old is also an accomplished author and scholar. Despite his visual impairment, Dash has memorised numerous verses from the Bhagavad Gita and authored a dozen literary works, including Ajira Ahwan, Atma Darpan, Paridhi and Satya Khojiba Chala.
His writings centred on human values, self-reflection and social transformation, have been appreciated by readers and literary organisations. He has been honoured with awards such as Surabhi Gaurav and Surabhi Ratna, besides receiving accolades from several government departments and social organisations for his contributions to education, literature and social service.
Elated over the announcement, Dash said the award was not just a personal achievement but a recognition to the cause of inclusive education and the capabilities of persons with disabilities.
“The honour has doubled my sense of responsibility towards the visually-impaired students and the society at large. This recognition is not just for me, but for every visually-impaired person striving for dignity and equal opportunities,” said the professor.
Asked about his future endeavours, Dash said his mission was to ensure no blind child was denied of quality education because of their disability. In the days to come, the 62-year-old aims to expand inclusive education in mainstream schools, ensuring greater access to Braille books, audio learning materials and assistive technologies for the visually-impaired students, besides training teachers to adopt inclusive classroom practices. This apart, he also wants to promote skill development and digital literacy among the visually impaired-youth to ensure they become self-reliant and economically independent.