ANNOUNCEMENT: A 3-hour get-together of AccessIndia members of Andhra Pradesh and Hyderabad is planned for Saturday November 2nd, 2013. Venue: the EFL University, Hyderabad. Mr. Kiran Kaja from Adobe, London who will be the special guest will deliver a talk on accessibility and technology in the west. The talk will be followed by an interactive session in addition to An exhibition of latest gadgets, mobile phones with accessaries and other computer-scanning equipment. All AccessIndia friends from Hyderabad and even from other parts of Andhra Pradesh are welcome to attend the programme. Kindly spread the news about the programme and make it a success. please indicate your willingness to attend the programme by writing to me or even by calling me on my mobile. my personal email ID [email protected] My Mobile: 08121007486. With Regards, Rajasekhar The EFL University Hyderabad
-----Original Message----- From: AccessIndia [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of avinash shahi Sent: 21 October 2013 15:31 To: jnuvision; accessindia Subject: [AI] Kashmir University: Disabled unfriendly institution Students with disabilities complain that university and college authorities have failed to provide them the facilities they need CONCERN BILAL BHAT October 21 2013 http://jammu.greaterkashmir.com/news/2013/Oct/21/disabled-unfriendly-institu tions-11.asp It's hard to imagine the life of the disabled. You can see them toiling to move from one place to another. Some hobble down the aisle, some are seen struggling to use the staircase, while others complain how difficult it is to walk under the scorching sun and in the chill of the winter. The social welfare schemes don't seem to benefit the disabled students in time. Most of the disabled students are not able to avail the benefits due to lack of awareness. Being physically challenged, education becomes their only hope to achieve their dreams and live an independent life. But in the garb of sympathy, they face lot of discrimination, not only in educational institutes but also at the time of their employment. After years of struggle to get educated, they are shown the door by employers on the pretext of being 'disabled.' For 24-year-old Arshid Ahmad Dar, who is pursuing LLB in Kashmir University, climbing stairs in the campus is like climbing a mountain. He uses a crutch and totters when he walks. "Orthopedically challenged students while climbing the stairs always have fear of falling. It feels like you are on the tip of the cliff and death is a step away," he says. "Why our university is lacking facilities for disabled students? How could the orthopedically challenged persons walk up stairs and make it to the department," he asks. "University should have taken this into consideration as other universities in India do." After struggling hard to get educated for a normal job, the disabled are rejected at the time of their employment. Twenty-five-year old Mohammad Sulthan Rather, who hails from Wassan Bangil, Tangmarg, wants to become a teacher. Without upper limbs, he struggled hard to make it to the postgraduate level. After doing masters in education, he completed his B.Ed and applied for teachers post in 2010. After getting shortlisted, he was interviewed. He thought his dream is a step away. But in spite of having the requisite education qualification, he was disqualified on the pretext of being a 'disabled person.' His dreams were shattered. "Why did they accept my form and shortlisted me for the post and even interviewed me?" he asks. "They should have told me from the beginning that I'm not eligible. While I approached higher authorities they told me you are not eligible because you don't have upper limbs." Mohammad Sulthan writes with his feet and believes he can teach as well as others teachers. Disappointed by the system, he says politicians only brag and those schemes remain confined to the files and are not applied on the ground. In order to get justice, he filed a case in high court challenging his post. "I will fight my case. If other states can have a teacher without upper limbs why not in Kashmir?" he asks. "I won't get distracted by this and I have almost completed my M.Ed to fulfill my dream." For the past one year some students in the varsity are yet to get the benefits of old schemes. Showakat Hayat, who studies law in Kashmir University, is yet to get the previous scholarship he had applied for last year. "I had applied last year and till now we have not received a single penny and now I'm applying for another one," he says. "When will I receive the aid? We even don't get any information about different programs and welfare schemes for the disabled students." Disabilities act of 1998 guaranties equal opportunities for the disabled persons. But in Kashmir the law of equality remains confined to the papers. To look after the grievances of the university students, a special cell was created in the university campus in 2009. There are about 150 disabled students in the Kashmir University. Accepting some lacunas, Registrar Kashmir University Prof. Zafar Ahmad Reshi says university does provide them scholarships on time like universities Alumni scholarship. "The centrally sponsored scholarships may take time because of the procedure," he says. "We are working to provide every possible facility to these students. We will be installing audio books and Braille system for vision of disabled students soon." Prof. Zafar says the university is considering providing internal transport to the disabled students as the university is not in a position to facilitate transport for them from their homes. "They are welcome to approach my office for their grievances," he says. "We have already sanctioned books, talking books and required software for different disabled students, and slowly it will be adopted by various colleges. -- Avinash Shahi M.Phil Research Scholar Centre for The Study of Law and Governance Jawaharlal Nehru University New Delhi India Register at the dedicated AccessIndia list for discussing accessibility of mobile phones / Tabs on: http://mail.accessindia.org.in/mailman/listinfo/mobile.accessindia_accessind ia.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 Disclaimer: 1. Contents of the mails, factual, or otherwise, reflect the thinking of the person sending the mail and AI in no way relates itself to its veracity; 2. AI cannot be held liable for any commission/omission based on the mails sent through this mailing list.. 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 Disclaimer: 1. Contents of the mails, factual, or otherwise, reflect the thinking of the person sending the mail and AI in no way relates itself to its veracity; 2. AI cannot be held liable for any commission/omission based on the mails sent through this mailing list..
