What is Jyoti AI? Innovative tech helping visually impaired railway staff

New Delhi: Northern Railway has distributed 123 Jyoti AI Smart Glasses to visually impaired employees as part of an initiative aimed at improving accessibility, independence and efficiency at the workplace.

What is Jyoti AI?

Jyoti, developed by Torchit, is an AI-powered smart glass designed to assist people with visual impairments. According to the company's website, the device uses artificial intelligence and computer vision to recognise objects, identify currency, detect colours, interpret text and recognise people.

The initiative has been undertaken in accordance with the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (PwBD) Act, 2016. Northern Railway General Manager Rajesh Kumar Pandey distributed the smart glasses at an event held at the National Rail Museum in Chanakyapuri on Tuesday.

Pandey said the technology-enabled devices would assist visually impaired employees in carrying out their official responsibilities more easily and confidently, while also supporting them in their daily lives.

"Today, a significant initiative is being undertaken by Northern Railway to provide smart glasses equipped with modern technology to visually impaired railway employees. A total of 123 visually impaired persons from this railway will benefit. In the first phase, smart glasses were distributed to 16 visually impaired employees at the headquarters," he said.

The event was attended by Northern Railway Additional General Manager Harsh Khare, Principal Chief Personnel Officer Sujit Kumar Mishra, Principal Heads of Departments (PHODs), and representatives of recognised unions and associations.

Employees who received the Jyoti AI Smart Glasses also shared their experiences at the event, explaining how the technology could help them perform their duties more efficiently.

The smart glasses are being distributed across multiple Northern Railway units. The beneficiaries include 17 employees at headquarters, 28 in Delhi Division, 13 in Lucknow Division, 10 in Ambala Division, 19 in Moradabad Division, five in Firozpur Division, 19 at Alambagh Workshop, three at Jagadhri Workshop and nine at Charbagh Workshop.

Northern Railway said the initiative underlines its commitment to creating an inclusive workplace and providing employees with disabilities access to technology and tools that can help them perform their responsibilities effectively.