Engineering student with vision impairment braves odds to follow his dreams

D.N.I.S. News Network - Yet another instance has come to light that exemplifies how prejudices and lack concerns for disability rights continue to make life difficult for students with disabilities when they try and brave the competitive world of higher professional education in the country.

Naga Babu, a person with vision impairment, has made it to an engineering college to pursue higher education but only after a testing and nerve wracking legal battle, which ended ended in his favour with the Andhra Pradesh High Court giving him a positive verdict.

Naga Babu, who hails from the Voyyuru in Krishna district, has had an impressive academic record. He was the first student with visual impairment to complete a diploma in software engineering and had dreams to complete his Bachelor of Engineering.

His first brush with the latent prejudice happened when the authorities refused to permit him to appear in the engineering entrance exam. The Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University allowed him to appear in the entrance exam only after he filed a writ petition with the High Court.

To his utter shock, the authorities then withheld his result, while the results of all other candidates were announced. Refusing to give up, Naga Babu again filed a petition with the High Court. When the authorities announced the results, it was found out that Naga had not only passed the entrance exam, but was also ranked 74th.

Naga's admission was further delayed as his case required approval by the State Council of Technical Education. On September 20, an expert committee examined his case and gave its nod for his admission clearing the last hurdle in his path.