Create barrier-free environment for the disabled: UGC tells universities
November 02, 2014 15:27
The University Grants Commission has asked universities across the country to earmark funds to ensure a barrier-free environment for physically challenged students, seeking a status report within a fortnight.
The move comes against the backdrop of the Bombay High Court directing Chief Commissioners for Persons with Disabilities at the Centre to instruct educational institutions in the country to provide a barrier-free environment for disabled students by March 2015.
Barrier free education continues to remain a distant dream for thousands of physically challenged students despite communications, rules and guidelines framed from time to time.
As per statistics, 1.67 per cent of the 0-19 age population has a disability and less than one per cent of them have access to educational facilities.
'The (UGC) has decided that out of the General Development Assistance (GDA) grant provided to University/lnstitution/ College an amount of Rs one lakh would be spent for barrier-free education," said a UGC communication to all the vice chancellors, adding "the status report in this regard may be within 15 days".
Barrier-free environment for disabled students should include ramp, lift and washroom facilities to accommodate wheel chairs, the court specifically said.
The term "barrier-free" indicates an environment where all users irrespective of their physical disadvantages can enter, use or access the resources as and when they want.
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