The Hindu : New Delhi News : Delhi University to become disabled-friendly

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Saturday, Jul 08, 2006

New Delhi

New Delhi

Delhi University to become disabled-friendly

Mandira Nayar

NGO conducts access audit of the campus to make it barrier-free

NEW DELHI: Delhi University is seriously looking at making the campus more "inclusive". A move that is long overdue, the University is now looking to translate its intentions towards the differently-abled from paper to reality. And taking the first step, the University has roped in Samarthya -- a non-government organisation -- to conduct an access audit of the campus to make it barrier free.

"Samarthya has done an audit for the campus to look at things like parking and access. Our mission is to make the University environment friendly for the differently-abled. Provisions are being made in the new buildings, but we want to make the old buildings accessible too. We hope to be able to provide ramps and later may be lifts," said Dean of Colleges Shirin Rathore.

The University has also constituted an Equal Opportunities Committee to ensure that all sections of students get access to the same facilities and to remove traces of discrimination.

The findings of the audit have been submitted to the Dean of Students' Welfare and action will be taken soon. An important beginning, the audit recommended small practical changes that could be made so that differently-abled students and teachers can manoeuvre around the campus with ease.

"We found that a large part of the campus was accessible. The audit was done in the Administration Block. But for visually handicapped challenged students, it could prove to be a problem. We have suggested that a tactile map for the University be made, so that students with a sight problem can find their way easily,'' said Anjlee Agarwal of Samarthya.

The University will also need to provide tactile markers, so that the visually challenged person can be guided through. "The height of the counters needs to be lowered for wheel-chair access. Parking for people with disability does not exist at the moment and that is one area that the University needs to rectify,'' pointed out Ms. Agarwal.

Signage and toilets for physically challenged people also needs to be worked out.

"Most of the changes that we have recommended will take very little time and are minor changes. Tables need to be provided in laboratories. A loop induction system for the hearing impaired could be installed in each classroom," said Ms. Agarwal.

The audit also looked at classrooms, canteens and libraries.

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