Beating the odds: Disabled students excel in academics

By Our Special Correspondent

New Delhi, Aug. 19: They are disabled from birth, but that hasn't stopped them from realizing their dreams.

Son of a coolie and physically handicapped, 20-year-old Thandan Babu from Andhra Pradesh has secured 80 per cent marks in BE electronics and communication engineering stream creating a record in his university. Another disabled student, Natraj Kranthi of Hyderabad, was the recipient of the Indian Institute of Architects' designer of the year award. Babu and Kranthi are two of the three extraordinary boys with physical disability who were given the National Centre for Promotion of Employment for Disabled People Best Scholar Award 2001 on Sunday. Another 22 equally bright young disabled students received the postgraduate and graduate professional scholarship. "The NCPEDP decided to encourage scholars to help them excel in their respective fields. It was decided that a medal and a certificate of merit be awarded to the student who performs the best among the NCPEDP scholars of the previous year. Such awards definitely help boost the confidence of these boys who have been disabled from birth." executive director Javed Abidi said.

The third person who received the award was Jyoti Mediratta of New Delhi who is also disabled. She joined a course in masters in computer application from Ignou after completing B.Com with 65.7 per cent marks. Mediratta has already done a certificate course in computing and her progress has been remarkable. She has developed a programme in C language which has been appreciated by software companies. "For a person with disability to achieve more than their able counterparts is phenomenal and sets an example for others suffering from some kind of physical shortcoming. That is why we chose her for the award," Mr. Abidi said. Meanwhile, 22 others also received awards for excellence in their respective fields, overcoming their shortcomings.

A resident of Hissar in Haryana, Anil Kumar is a physically disabled person who is persuing his B. Tech. in agricultural engineering from Haryana Agricultural University and received the award. Kumar did exceptionally well in his class X examinations scoring 80 per cent. He now aspires to do his M. Tech from one of the IITs. Another recipient of the award was Bantwal Siddharth Baliga from New Delhi who is suffering from blood cancer. Baliga is pursuing his BE in electrical and electronics from the Manipal Institute of Technology.

Source: The Delhi Age
Dated :20th August, 2001