Equal Opportunity Cell at Delhi University

With the objective of making it Disabled Friendly, Delhi University has set up a cell called Equal Opportunity Cell (EOC). In its Disability Statement, the University reiterates its commitment towards sensitizing the environment of the university and general public regarding the problems of “the not-so-abled people” by bringing forth their strengths and problems. It looks into the matter of alleviating any level of discrimination done on the basis of physical challenges and nature of impairment. The Statement also points out its objective of removing the physical barriers and making education accessible to all by making improvements in the infrastructural facilities. It also aims at generating resources for the provision of tuition assistance and special equipment, educational and vocational counselling, and availing trained readers and writers to these students.

The EOC works on the aforesaid agenda. It has the responsibility of initiating constructive programmes for ensuring equal accessibility. After the initial access audit, many steps have been undertaken.  The Resource Centre has a Reception-cum Information Centre. Recently a language Training Centre for the hearing impaired an equipment room for Braille embosser and other modern equipments have been set up here. There is a computing laboratory where there are 15 terminals for the visually impaired. The facility of special educators, training room-cum-seminar-cum-committee room with adequate furniture and IT gadgets has also been provided. There is a separate room for aids and appliances. Two toilets with complete modern facilities for the differently-abled users have also been provided. Besides, a tactile path from the main gate of the Arts Faculty Complex and from the tutorial building to the Resource Centre has been built by NTPC. The centre is probably the first of its kind in any Indian university.

Courses offered by EOC

EOC has offered many new courses for the physically challenged. These are short-term courses of 3-6 months offered at the DU-NTPC Centre. These courses focus on training the Persons with Disabilities and others with certain essential skills so that they are qualified for better jobs. The courses also envisage the awareness of the public about the disability issues. Some of the courses are given below

• Sign Language Interpretation: It is of 6 months duration. The course aims at developing basic communicative skills in Sign Language and ability to interpret.
• Communicative English: It is also of 6 months duration. Here training is given in technical writing and professional communication skills. The students learn to use computer-based tools for drafting documents and presentation.
• Information and Computer-Technology: The course is of 4 months duration. It aims at developing basic skills in communication and information through the use of computers mainly for those with visual impairment.
• Disability and Human Rights: This 3 months course helps in understanding the experiences of students and staff with disabilities. It is designed to bring about the issues that affect the way in which people with disability are treated, locally as well as globally.

Other concerns of EOC

The Braille Section of the Central Library changes according to the needs of these students with special needs. Delhi University is the first University in the country to adopt DAISY standards for talking books. 1500 books are available in e-text format. It also has book scanning facility. There are Braille question papers, college magazines etc. The staff of Braille library is trained to work on computerized Braille production and talking book production systems.
Sign Language interpreters are also available for students of the University of Delhi.
Roads have been reconstructed and tactiled by the Cell to make the access easy for the orthopedically and visually impaired persons. Special toilets and ramps are being constructed for the wheelchair users.

To make the process smooth, some of the cost is borne by the MCD while most of the portion was provided by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment. Only 25% of the cost was to be borne by the individual colleges. 

The series of all these efforts is expected to bring about positive results in near future as more and more physically challenged students would be able to make their dream of higher education come true.