Disabled-Friendly University

The Berhampur University has proposed to make its buildings disabled-friendly. To make the campus barrier-free, facilities like ramps in all 10 academic blocks and lifts in multi-storey buildings in the administrative and library blocks are on the cards.

The university has submitted a Rs 2.80-crore proposal to the University Grants Commission (UGC) in 12th plan period (2012-13 to 2017-18) to make the buildings accessible to differently-abled students. The university is also contemplating to seek some more funds from the state government for the purpose.

"More number of differently-abled students will pursue their studies in the university if we provide a barrier-free environment," said vice chancellor J K Mohapatra.

K Ananda Rao, executive committee member of Odisha Disabled People's Network (ODPN), hailed the decision of the university. Besides, he sought proper transport facilities for the differently-abed. "We think more number of differently-abled students will pursue higher studies in the university if the authorities provide proper transport facilities," he said.

Berhampur University is located 12 km away from the town.
"Not only university buildings, but also the government office buildings should be barrier-free," Rao said. The Union ministry of urban development also asked the state governments recently to make changes in building bylaws to make them disabled-friendly, said another handicapped person.

Source : TOI , 29th January , 2013 (Bhubaneshwar)