A helping hand for the disabled

By Our Staff Reporter

India has over five crore disabled people. And over 98 per cent of them have little or no access to education. Forced by sheer apathy in a country where educational concessions are not given to the disabled, the National Council for Promotion of Employment of the Disabled Persons has started a postgraduate/professional scholarship scheme.

Under this scheme, scholarships are given to deserving disabled students with limited means. Three students, who excelled last year in academics, will be given their '2001 Best Scholar' certificates on Monday by Ms. Sonia Gandhi. Twenty-two students have been named for next year's scholarship.

Aslam Amin, one of the students selected, is currently doing computer engineering from Jamia Hamdard. Aslam scored 78 per cent in his second semester. Interestingly, one of his subjects was C+ language which has foxed most of the BIT students in Delhi University. "The field I have chosen, computers, is very competitive. What I am proud of is that I got through Jamia in the general category and not the disabled one."

Nataraj Kranthi, a 2001 Best Scholar, has completed his Bachelor of Architecture from the School of Planning and Architecture. Ask how he feels and he says: "My work has just started. I will build a barrier-free environment with buildings where disabled people will be able to enter without any escort."

The proud father of Ms Jyoti Mediratta, an other 2001 Bet Scholar, spoke about how he has left no stone unturned for his son and daughter, both disabled.

He recalls spending more than Rs 3,000 a month on transportation from their tuitions. "But it has been every bit worth the struggle," he smiles tearfully.

The 2001 Best Scholar, Thandan Ramavathula, is completing his Bachelor in Electronics and Computer Engineering degree. His parents are coolies, yet in the face of adversity he has managed to score over 80 per cent in his first year.

Source: The Hindu
Dated: 20th August, 2001