Smartphones, hearing gear for students with disability

Delhi University will provide accessible smart phones, smart canes, hearing gear and wheelchairs to students with disability from this year.

Delhi University will provide accessible smart phones, smart canes, hearing gear and wheelchairs to students with disability from this year.

Even though the process is online this year, the Equal Opportunity Cell has been helping such students to fill the form. They are also attending queries over the phone. (Raj K Raj/HT File)

In a move to empower students, the university’s Equal Opportunity Cell (EOC) is working to provide physically impaired students with such facilities.

“The students have already been provided laptops and now we will give them accessible smart phones, canes, wheelchair and hearing gear. These will be provided through the central government’s Assistance for Person with Disability (ADIP) scheme,” said Anil Aneja, officer on special duty (OSD), EOC.

The university reserves 3% of seats in each course for such students. They also get 5% relaxation in cutoff. Even for hostel seats, there is 5% reservation for physically disabled.

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With the change in the cutoff policy last year, which will continue this year as well, officials say enrolment of students in the category has increased.

“Suppose a disabled student has scored a 90 % in the board exam and he takes admission under the cutoff meant for the disabled category. But later as the cutoff in the subsequent list comes down and he meets the cutoff, he will move to the general seat. So this policy has made more seats available for students with disability,” said Aneja.

Even though the process is online this year, the EOC has been helping such students to fill the form. They are also attending queries over the phone.

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“We are getting a lot of query on dyslexia being included in the disabled category. This is included in the locomotor orthopaedic disability,” said Bipin Tiwari, EOC OSD.

Those with more than 40% disability will be considered for the reservation in the category. Starting this year, students will upload self-attested copies of disability certificates with the registration form.

“DU will only accept a certificate from the government hospital as a proof of disability,” said Tiwari.

So far around 468 candidates in the category have applied to DU. Last year, a total of 1,031 students applied.