Dear Colleagues,
Delhi University is sitting over several access audit reports conducted by independent agencies for which the University has paid a fee while the students with disabilities continue to suffer! One of such reports was shared by Svayam with the Delhi University to improve upon the signage and pedestrian access in the North Campus of Delhi University. However, there seems no action on the report till date and it is over two years. The situation is no better in even the South Campus of Delhi University.
The main roads connecting and passing through the Campus are not within the control of Delhi University and we have learnt that due to lack of coordination among multiple agencies manning the roads, the accessibility project has suffered badly. During Commonwealth Games, road were laid with spaces for motor and non-motorised transport, however it did not provide proper access to pedestrians. There are wrongly placed tactile pavers and abrupt level changes. On top of it, the access points always remain choked with the parked vehicles in front of gates. The pedestrian crossings are a nightmare and given the traffic sense on the roads, the disabled users are always prone to accidents. However, there is no initiative from any quarter to streamline the issue.
Recently a student with disability met with a serious accident. Students have thus decided to raise their voice which is very right and we strongly support this.
Here is the news items from Deccan Herald:
DU students bat for disabled-friendly campus
Apr 4, 2012
NEW DELHI: Students with disabilities will hold a protest on Wednesday demanding a more accessible campus from Delhi University authorities.
A month back they had submitted an application to university authorities regarding safety on roads, said a member of DU cross disabilities association (DUCDA). “A week ago another reminder was sent but to no effect,” added the member.
The members also carried out a signature campaign where around 700 students showed their solidarity.
“Student with disability met with a major accident recently in north campus. We are demanding safety on the roads. Although there are tactile paths in north campus for students who are blind, most of them are badly planned,” said Kapil Kumar, a blind postgraduate sociology student from Delhi School of Economics.
“Half the time while walking on these paths we bump into poles and trees. Incidents of blind students falling into pits have also come to light,” he added.
The students complain that they are being ignored.
“Though there is an equal opportunity cell (EOC) in the university to guide students with disabilities, it is always over burdened. Everywhere we go, we are directed to EOC which has limited resources and capacity. The proctor is handling EOC, but it should have an independent incharge to address our problems more effectively. Our issues have always been sidelined,” he said.
The students are also demanding to make accessible hostels and toilets.
“Very few colleges, not even the prominent ones, have toilets specially constructed for students with disabilities. Khalsa College may have one as one of the teaching faculty is disabled,” said Shakti Kumar Agarwal adding in hostels like Gwyer Hall, it is impossible to move in a wheelchair.
“Its entrance has steps. There is a boys’ hostel for disabled students that too is under Delhi government. There are no hostels for disabled women students,” said Agarwal.
The students are demanding a separate elected body on the lines of Delhi University Students’ Union (DUSU) to better represent them.
“There is a stray dog problem in every hostel. Once a blind girl fell into a pit where a dog was lying and got bitten. The students with disabilities are terrorised to walk on the footpaths, so they walk on the sides of the roads. That’s equally dangerous,” added Agarwal.
While DU has around 1,500 students with disabilities, many of them blind.