A modified carrom board for blind

HYDERABAD: Do you know that chess is the only indoor game available for the visually impaired in the world? Now, thanks to a a research officer of the National Institute for the Visually Handicapped (NIVH), they can play carroms too.Their board, however, will have 21 holes instead of the standard four. This carrom board is especially made for persons who are visually impaired.It is the brainchild of Dr Milan Dass, a Research Officer of NIVH, who did it for the students of the Devnar Foundation For The Blind (DFFTB). “In this world a visually impaired person has access only to two games - Chess and Cricket.So, considering the limitations I have designed a new carrom board,” Dass said.The game will be played with a C-stopper, which will be fixed behind one of the 21 holes. Using a striker which is modified into a cresent shape, the player can put any coin into the hole. “The opponent will dictate into which hole the coin has to be deposited. So the player who finishes all the nine coins first will be considered a winner,” Dass explained.It took him four days to prepare the modified carrom board and students of DFFTB are enjoying it immensely.