The Hindu : National : Rights Group seeks `justice' for disabled girl

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Sunday, Jun 25, 2006

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National

Rights Group seeks `justice' for disabled girl

Staff Reporter

NEW DELHI: Disabled Rights Group, a non-political advocacy group, has written to the Joint Secretary in the Bureau of University and Higher Education (Administration), Sunil Kumar, seeking his intervention in getting a single-room hostel accommodation for Pooja Sharma, a disabled girl from Meerut, at Symbiosis Law College in Pune.

In his letter, Disabled Rights Group Executive Director Javed Abidi said: "Pooja being severely disabled needed a single room but for some strange reason the college authorities and hotel in-charge have allotted her a triple-seater room.

``It seems that the college authorities are consciously demoralising the girl and her family with the intention that she leave the college.''

Mr. Abidi has asked Mr. Kumar to examine the matter "as a policy issue because in keeping with the letter and the spirit of the Disability Act, severely disabled students and wheelchair users should be given priority in such matters''.

"At our level, we have tried our best but so far the college authorities have not relented. Your firm intervention can make all the difference,'' he said.

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