Many seats,few takers: Disabled students find hurdles on road to DU

Only 400 of the 1,200 seats allocated for the physically handicapped were filled up the last academic year. This year,the total number of seats will go up to 1,500,thanks to the implementation of the 27 per cent OBC reservation.

“A majority of the visually challenged students who study in DU come from Uttar Pradesh or Bihar. The students need to stay in hostels,and the cost of living is a limiting factor for them,” said Shalini Khanna,Director of the National Association for the Blind (NAB) India,Centre for Blind Women.

“We registered eight students today,but there are at least eight others who are scared to apply keeping in mind the costs involved in studying in a DU college. Rarely are concessions given to the physically handicapped; even hostel accommodation is not guaranteed for them,” Khanna said.

In view of the bleak situation,the prospect of hostels closing for the Commonwealth Games is a frightening thought. “The eight students I accompanied for registration today were all worried about hostel accommodation. Unfortunately,the authorities had no clear answers,” said Reena Bhatia,a former DU student.

“I want to study BCom (Hons) at SRCC but I was told that I may have to stay out of the hostel for almost four months while it is renovated,” said Karan Singhania,a visually challenged student from Chattisgarh.

Most colleges remain undecided. “We are waiting for the Rs. 2.3 crore allocation from DU to renovate the hostels. If that does not come,we will do basic furnishing and open the hostel when the college reopens. The Hostel Committee will decide whether the physically handicapped students will be provided accommodation during renovation work,if it takes place,” said Tanvir Aeijaz,warden of the Ramjas hostel.

The Hansraj hostel has a better deal for its physically challenged students. “We will close during renovation work for the Games,but will keep rooms open for the physically handicapped students,” said Hansraj Principal V K Kawatra.