Himachal Pradesh University has unfolded a comprehensive policy document covering all the statutory rights of the disabled students. “The Equal Opportunity Policy for Persons with Disabilities” has emphasized on non- discrimination and complete empowerment of the disabled students. It will establish a Grievance Redressal Cell for disabled students, teachers and employees. One major relief for the teachers and employees is that their services can never be terminated due to disability. Apart from education, they would be entitled to get equal opportunity in sports, Yoga, library, coaching, skill development and recreation etc. The university would create barrier- free environment. Teachers and non- teaching employees have also been covered in the policy.
Vice Chancellor Prof. SP Bansal has congratulated the disabled students as HPU has become the first university in the northern states except Delhi to prepare such document. This will be strictly implemented and these students would not have to run from pillar to post to achieve their legal rights, he further said. Nodal Officer for Disability Affairs Prof. Ajay Srivastava elaborated the content of the Policy. He said there is a provision of absolutely free education, free hostel, a supernumerary seat in Ph.D in each department every year, five percent reservation in all courses, fully accessible library equipped with talking software for the disabled students. They will get relaxation of five years in upper age limit in admission. The visually impaired students will be provided with e-resources.
The policy has a resolve to promote ‘appropriate augmentative alternative models of communication and formats including computer with talking software, large print, Braille and Indian Sign Language. Books of the library would be made accessible to visually impaired students through digitization. A pool of scribes would be prepared for those students who can not write due to disability. Till the pool of scribes is prepared, no criteria of educational qualification of scribe shall be fixed. He said, as per the Policy, the university will restructure its curriculum to ensure access, inclusion and participation of the disabled students in all Yoga and sports activities. The Policy also includes the provisions of free coaching, skill development and vocational training for the disabled students.
