Delhi University reserves seats for acid-attack survivors this year onward
Delhi University has taken a decision to include the acid-attack survivors and students suffering from thalassemia and dwarfism for reservation in their under-graduation courses, this year onward. This university is the first in India to adopt the revised Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016. The revised law has increased the reservation for students suffering from disability from three percent to five percent and has also expanded the scope of disabilities.
In a notice issued last month by the University Grants Commission (UGC), all Central universities have been asked to implement the revised law. According to The New Indian Express, Nodal Officer of the Equal Opportunity Cell, Delhi University, Anil K Aneja said,
Following the UGC notification, we are planning to implement the revised Act. Also, this time we are giving more space to the disabled students in all fields, including hostel admissions.
As per this revision, there will be over 2,500 seats reserved for specially-abled students who will apply for the university. Around 260 students have applied till now under the disability category this year.
According to the Hindustan Times, officer on special duty (OSD) admissions Ashutosh Bhardwaj said,
It is a very good move which will help acid attack survivors to come into mainstream and fight the stigma. We hope we get many candidates under this category.
The students suffering from a mental disorder, an intellectual disability or a disability caused due to neurological conditions will also be included in the university reservation list now. According to the News 18, founder of Make Love Not Scars, Ria Sharma said,
It’s a welcome move, but the government also needs to concentrate on their rehabilitation. The majority of them have been forced to leave the education mid-way and the government has not done enough to re-institutionalize them into the education system.
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