Thanks Ajay for sharing all this. Ramakrishnanji, we have approached CCPD. Lets see how do they intervene. In this regard, see the following link for coverage in Deccan Herald; and join the struggle.
http://www.deccanherald.com/content/305107/students-special-needs-face-harassment.html ‘Students with special needs face harassment for showing dissent’ New Delhi, Jan 13, 2103, DHNS Delhi University’s teachers’ forum Sambhavana, working for the rights of students with special needs, said students who participated in the protest held on January 8 are being harassed and intimidated. Students with special needs have been demanding better facilities in the varsity. They are also constantly complaining about no action being taken on the demands raised by them time and again. “The ex-proctor, who is also the coordinator of the Equal Opportunity Cell (EOC), the deputy proctor, and the deputy dean, who is also serving as the officer on special duty in EOC, are intimidating students on either over the phone or whenever they visit the centre dedicated for disabled students,” said Sambhavana member Nikhil Jain. Several students who participated in the protest complained that officials are threatening to exclude them from physically handicapped category benefits and facilities provided by the university. “We are being told that because the protest was video recorded, the officials know who all participated. The intimidation is often derogatory. This, coming from officials holding posts is in bad taste,” said a visually challenged student. “When did demanding equal and basic rights become incorrect?” A senior official said they have not yet received any complaint regarding the same. The forum members said no communication has taken place regarding the demands. As an immediate demand, the protesters wanted the vice chancellor to form an empowered committee for drafting a time-bound action plan for resolution of issues. “Most of these issues have been raised many times from different platforms, but no concrete steps have been taken by the university to address these pressing concerns,” said Jain. The second demand was that the university should announce a date on which it would organise a ‘disability summit’, where disabled persons would get an opportunity for directly sharing their grievances with the empowered committee. “This can help propose a well-formulated time-bound action plan,” added Jain. The forum members, after consultations with students and non-teaching members, have decided that if the varsity fails to respond and address the immediate demands, then they will be compelled to intensify their struggle through a hunger strike on Friday. “A march is also planned to the union human resource development ministry on February 8. We are also trying to seek the intervention of the Prime Minister, UPA chairperson, union HRD minister, University Grants Commission chairperson and the chief commissioner for persons with disabilities, for resolution of our issues,” said Jain. On 1/15/13, ram <[email protected]> wrote: > This attitude is obnoxious and should be condemned in the strictest words. > WE also request the CCPD to intervene in this issue and restore the > dignity of the challenged. What ever the issues, the DU should discuss and > find an amicable solution and not bully the students. > regards > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Ajay Arora" <[email protected]> > To: <[email protected]> > Sent: Monday, January 14, 2013 10:23 AM > Subject: [AI] Sambhavana Organization’s Statement Condemning the > Undemocratic, Bullying and Anti-Disabled Attitude of Delhi University > Authorities > > > Ref.Sam.2013/104 > Dated: 12/01/2013 > > Subject: Sambhavana Organization’s Statement Condemning the > Undemocratic, Bullying and Anti-Disabled Attitude of Delhi University > Authorities > > At the call of Sambhavana Organization, and more importantly, owing to > their own grievances, about 250 disabled students and teachers had > assembled on last Tuesday (8th January 2013) outside the office of > Delhi University Vice Chancellor in order to seek two assurances from > him. First, we wanted him to constitute an Empowered Committee for > drafting a time-bound action plan for the resolution of issues > mentioned in our comprehensive representation already submitted in his > office. Most of these issues have been raised many times from > different platforms, but no concrete steps have been taken up by the > University to address these pressing concerns. Second, we wanted the > University to announce a date on which it would organize a ‘disability > summit’ where disabled persons would get an opportunity for directly > sharing their grievances with the Empowered Committee so that it can > propose a well-formulated time-bound action plan. > Here, it may also be noted that Sambhavana Organization had undertaken > the task of organizing many rounds of consultative discussions with > disabled students, teachers and non-teaching employees of the > University for preparing a comprehensive representation at the behest > of DU Vice Chancellor himself. However, when we prepared and submitted > the representation to Vice Chancellor and requested him to resolve the > issues and to give us time for discussing these matters with him, he > did not do so despite many reminders. Finding no other way, disabled > students and teachers decided to assemble on 8th January outside the > office of Delhi University Vice Chancellor. When they received no > assurance despite five hours of Dharna, they carried out a march from > Vice Chancellor’s office to Arts Faculty with the resolve to intensify > the struggle if DU pays no heed to their genuine demands. Even then, > the stonehearted authorities did not make any promise. We have not > received any communication from University authorities though many > days have elapsed after the peaceful democratic protests. > It is also worth noting that owing to this insensitive and indifferent > attitude of the University authorities, disabled students were > compelled to assert their voice in the form of protest/agitations > about a year ago as well. Many promises were made thereafter, but none > was fulfilled. > The situation is worst this time, because University has not only > failed to make any promise, but it is threatening those students who > participated in the 8th January protest demonstrations. The X Proctor, > who is also the Coordinator of Equal Opportunity Cell (EOC), the > Deputy Proctor, and the Deputy Dean who is also serving as the OSD in > EOC are intimidating the students on either phone or whenever they > visit the DU NTPC Resource Center. The students are being told that > the University has prepared the video recording of the demonstrations; > and the University will not consider the names of those students who > participated in the demonstration for any benefit/facilities vis-à-vis > other students. We have been also told that while intimidating the > students, they are using derogatory and anti-disabled language. > We strictly condemn this attitude of Delhi University authorities. We > request them to apply their mind for resolving the genuine issues > disabled are fighting for, instead of threatening the students, which > would further compel us to intensify the struggle. Both, are demands > as well as our protest demonstrations are our democratic, legal and > constitutional rights. University should respect these rights. It > should enable us to exercise and enjoy these rights, instead of > crushing them through intimidation and harassment. > If Delhi University fails to positively respond and address the > immediate issues mentioned above, we will be compelled to intensify > the struggle through a hunger strike on Friday (18/01/2013) in DU and > a march to MHRD on Friday (8th February 2013). We would, however, like > to sincerely endeavor to peacefully avert the present crisis. > Therefore, we are trying to seek the intervention of Prime Minister, > UPA Chair Person, Union Minister for HRD, Chairman–UGC and Chief > Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities, Government of India for > the resolution of our issues through their timely intervention in this > matter. > > > Nikhil Jain > (President, Sambhavana Organization) > > -- > Ajay Arora > Research Scholar > centre for the study of law and governance > Jawaharlal nehru university (JNU) > Mail to: > [email protected] > mobile: 9013901277. > > > Register at the dedicated AccessIndia list for discussing accessibility of > mobile phones / Tabs on: > http://mail.accessindia.org.in/mailman/listinfo/mobile.accessindia_accessindia.org.in > > > Search for old postings at: > http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/ > > To unsubscribe send a message to > [email protected] > with the subject unsubscribe. > > To change your subscription to digest mode or make any other changes, please > > visit the list home page at > http://accessindia.org.in/mailman/listinfo/accessindia_accessindia.org.in > > > > Register at the dedicated AccessIndia list for discussing accessibility of > mobile phones / Tabs on: > http://mail.accessindia.org.in/mailman/listinfo/mobile.accessindia_accessindia.org.in > > > Search for old postings at: > http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/ > > To unsubscribe send a message to > [email protected] > with the subject unsubscribe. > > To change your subscription to digest mode or make any other changes, please > visit the list home page at > http://accessindia.org.in/mailman/listinfo/accessindia_accessindia.org.in > > -- Vikas Gupta Assistant Professor–University of Delhi; Joint Secretary–Sambhavana Organization; National Executive Member–All-India Forum for Right to Education (AIF-RTE); Associate Editor–'Reconstructing Education'; Permanent Office: Department of History, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Delhi , Delhi 110007, India. Ph: +91-11-266659 (O.), +91-11-27662347 (R.) & +91-9818193875 (M.) Email: [email protected] Register at the dedicated AccessIndia list for discussing accessibility of mobile phones / Tabs on: http://mail.accessindia.org.in/mailman/listinfo/mobile.accessindia_accessindia.org.in Search for old postings at: http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/ To unsubscribe send a message to [email protected] with the subject unsubscribe. To change your subscription to digest mode or make any other changes, please visit the list home page at http://accessindia.org.in/mailman/listinfo/accessindia_accessindia.org.in
