To celebrate the completion of 200 years of Braille script which was invented by Sir Louis Braille, Snehankit Helpline had organised a 2 - Day State Level Braille Reading Competition for visually impaired persons on 25th and 26th January 2025 at Vile Parle East Mumbai. Around 49 participants from different parts of Maharashtra participated in the competition. The competition was held in 3 languages (English, Marathi & Hindi) in 4 age-groups (Std. 1st to 5th, Std. 6th to 10th, Std. 11th to graduation & an Open group). The judges for the competition were Mr. Harshad Jadhav, Mr. Prakash Pandagale, Mr. Mohammad Razaq, Smt. Mangal Nimbalkar, Smt. Priti Shende, Smt. Padma Rapoz and Dr. Kalpana Kharade who are all visually impaired.

The winners of the competition in each language in each age-group were awarded cash prizes and all participants received participation certificates. The certificates were given by Snehankit Helpline to all the participants. We appreciate Mr. Chintamani Hasabnis, Founder of Drushti Sparsh Art Foundation for giving certificates to all the participants as a token of encouragement for their interest in reading braille. Snehankit Helpline also distributed specially-designed mugs as a momento of the competition to all judges, participants and volunteers who are well verse with Braille script and has contributed in the competition by making passages for competition in all 3 languages. The prizes, certificates and mugs were distributed during the closing ceremony on 26th January. During the distribution ceremony, the judges talked about the importance of being able to read braille. Some of the participants also spoke about their experience during the competition.