Krantikari Yuva Sangathan members stage a protest demanding the rights of specially-abled students, at Delhi University in New Delhi on Thursday.
| Photo Credit: ANI

Mahima, a wheelchair user and first-year student at Delhi University’s School of Open Learning (SOL), said she was made to crawl over the stairs of a Hansraj College building to attend her class on the second floor.

The incident happened on February 15, when the 20-year-old student went to the college and found that there was no ramp or lift in the building. “A professor told me that I can be lifted up to the second floor. But I declined and crawled up,” she told The Hindu.

She added that SOL students are discriminated against as “they don’t have the same facilities as students of regular courses”.

On Friday, Assistant Professor of History Maya John wrote to Vice-Chancellor Yogesh Singh seeking facilities for those with mobility impairment. 

In the letter to the VC, Ms. John wrote, “There seems to be a lack of regulation of study centres roped in by DU SOL, which is why there are repeated complaints of insensitive and shameful treatment meted out to not only disabled SOL students but also the larger body of SOL students.”

When The Hindu reached Prof. Singh, he did not respond.

Mahima said her classes are hybrid, and she has to attend physical classes only on Sundays. Her first semester classes were held in another college.

Reacting to the incident, Payal Mago, the SOL principal, said, “The matter was not brought to our notice. We would have made the necessary arrangements on the ground floor of the college. We have been following all the protocols for Persons with Disabilities (PwD).”

According to an official, over 2,000 of nearly 4 lakh students enrolled in undergraduate and postgraduate programmes at the SOL are PwDs.

A group of Delhi University students on Thursday held a protest demanding disabled-friendly infrastructure.

“The PwDs face inhuman treatment at the study centres lack support staff and assistance. This adds to their social and academic exclusion,” said student organisation Krantikari Yuva Sangathan.