Humanity Welfare Organisation HELPline NGO,

National Highway Road Bijbehara Anantnag, J&K- India

Registered under Societies act 4346-s of 2003

No: HL/0070/09 Dated: 3/07/2009

To

The Registrar

University of Kashmir

Hazratbal Srinagar

Respected Sir

Greetings from Physically challenged people of J&K

I personally and on behalf of the physically challenged students of the University cordially thank you for initiating efforts towards the empowerment of the physically challenged students. These include

Setting of special cell for students with disabilities, under the guidelines of the UGC.

Providing special reservation in B.Ed courses through distance mode of education and

Provision of ramps at entry points of the university.

But various steps need to be taken for complete and concrete empowerment of the physically challenged students. These include

The special cell should be given full staff strength as per guidelines of the UGC, so that it can function smoothly with one objective that is the redress of the problems of the physically challenged students. All departments may please be directed to cooperate in the matters of the students with disabilities on priority.

The reservation in the distance mode of the education should not be confined to the B.Ed course only but it should be extended to the other post graduate diploma and degree courses in various subjects including M. Ed, under a proper circular that will serve as the long term licence to get the admissions in future.

The provision of the ramps may please be followed by the provision of lifts in old buildings. However there is a dire need to pass a circular that no design for a new building will be admitted until it is completely disabled friendly. This can only happen during your good self’s tenure as the Vice Chancellor because your highness is much more visionary towards empowerment of the persons with disabilities. We are worried about the position of Gandhi Bawan, Auditorium, and Convocation hall because these places are of public importance but not accessible for the severely disabled. These places may please be made accessible by provision of ramps and other signage so that students, staff and visitors with disabilities can feel free and independent while visiting such places. They should be in a position to come on dice also. That is an important issue.

There should be at least 50% fee concession in all undergraduate and postgraduate courses for the students with disabilities and in addition we need scholarships to cater our special needs for example severe disabled students are not able to use normal transport and are forced to hire transport as per the requirement etc.

The reservation in the postgraduate courses for the students with disabilities is 3% but it is only given in haphazard manner. Therefore the reservation may please be given in all a courses including research programmes, like M. Phil and Ph. D programmes. Many Postgraduate students with disabilities are waiting for M. Phil admissions as you have assured us last year in the first ever meeting in the V.C secretariat that a committee would be set up regarding the reservation for physically challenged students in the research programme . They should be encouraged please.

Like J.N.U, Delhi University and other state and central universities, where the reservation is provided in appointments also, our university should also extend the reservation in employment. These steps will really make Kashmir University a role model for others.

The department of Geology has denied reservation in disabled category, one of our talented students with disability – Syed Bashir deserves the admission under HC category in the department. His case may please be considered so that the student with cerebral palsy may not lose heart but get equal opportunity as is guaranteed by the UN convention for the rights of persons with disabilities and the Indian Act for persons with disabilities 1995.

All administrative blocks need installation of lifts including your secretariat and examination block so that students and staff with disabilities can pursue their cases without any difficulty.

We all believe in your help and support. The time has come when we the persons with disabilities should get our rights instead of sympathy. Intellectual class can recognise our inner sufferings that is not evident physically. Therefore as our guide, representative and supporter your good self is requested to provide equal opportunities protect our rights and help us in full participation,

With Best Regards,

Yours faithfully

Javed Ahmad Tak

Honorary Chairman

Humanity Welfare Organisation HELPline NGO

Bijbehara, Anantnag - 192124