News

Volume 4 Issue 14 - July 15, 2006

D.U. to strive for ‘inclusive’ campus; Ropes in N.G.O. to conduct access audit

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.