Seats for disabled students go vacant

While most students vie for a seat in the Delhi University (DU), the seats for students with disabilities lie vacant for want of applicants.

While most students vie for a seat in the Delhi University (DU), the seats for students with disabilities lie vacant for want of applicants.

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The university offers more 1,620 undergraduate seats for students with disabilities. Last year only 394 of these seats were filled. “We have never been able to fill more than 400 seats through the disability quota. We have all the facilities but there is no one to avail them,” said Seema M Parihar, Deputy Dean, Students’ Welfare, DU.

Only four students registered themselves on the first day of the sale of forms. Sparsh Gupta, the topper from the disabled section, was also among them.

The university has listed four categories under which a student can register. These are orthopedic disability, visually impaired, hearing impaired and dyslexic students. This year, the university’s Equal Opportunity Cell has a separate registration centre at the Dean, Students’ Welfare Office in North Campus. Registrations are open from 10 am to 1 pm. Students with more than 40 per cent disability can register themselves.

“The university has three per cent seats for students with disabilities but we don’t even manage to fill 30 per cent of these seats. Even the most sought after colleges have this quota,” said Parihar.

1,620: Number of seats in DU for students with disability

You require: Class 10 pass certificate; Class 12 pass certificate/provisional certificate; Certificates that ascertain the date of birth; Disability certificate

Dates for medical tests: For orthopedic disability, visually impaired and hearing impaired applicants: June 2, June 9, June 14, June 15, June 22 and June 29 For dyslexic students: June 14 and June 22