News
D.N.I.S. News
Service – Delhi University (D.U.) seems to be trying to reform
its ways, by giving a thought to the thousands of disabled students left out
of the educational system for the simple reason that the University is absolutely
inaccessible in every sense of the word, and the apathetic attitude of the
concerned authorities.
Well,
it seems to be going all out in trying to convince the media as well as the
public regarding its sincerity in making the University barrier free and ‘inclusive’.
As a first step in this direction, it has asked Samarthya,
a non-government organisation, to conduct an access audit of the campus to
make it barrier free. The University has also constituted an Equal Opportunities
Committee to ensure that all sections of students have equal access to facilities.
The
concerned N.G.O. has submitted the audit report to the Dean of Students’ Welfare.
Among suggested changes are tactile map and tactile markers to help blind
students find their way in the campus, lowering of counters for wheelchair
access, parking space for disabled students, signage, and accessible toilets
in addition to other minor modifications.
With
a history that is not so positive as far as its attitude to disabled students
is concerned, it is to be seen whether the University is genuine in its efforts
and whether it will act upon the suggestions of the N.G.O. in order to make
its campus disabled-friendly.