DU asks colleges to set up admission panels for differently abled students

Delhi University has told its colleges to set up ‘special category admission enabling committees’ for disabled students and those belonging to socially marginalised sections aspiring to join the new four-year undergraduate programme.

The colleges have been given time till June 27 to update the names of the members of these panels on their websites, a university official said.

“We have asked all colleges to constitute a dedicated committee to promote the process of inclusion so that students get a direct chance to interact with teachers and get familiarised with the colleges,” said Bipin Tiwari, officer of DU’s equal opportunity cell (EOC).

The panels will be tasked to facilitate admissions of the disabled and students from Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and Other Backward Classes.

Tiwari said till last year, students were issued a slip by the EOC and they had to go to colleges, pay their fees and complete the admission process. “Now, each college is required to have a separate window, an easy internal college form and more importantly, easy accessible forms in audio and print for students with disabilities,” he said.

According to the university guidelines, all colleges are required to update the names of the committee members on their websites before the announcement of the first cut-off list on June 27, but only four colleges have complied so far.

Some staff members in these four colleges do not seem to be aware of their exact role on these special committees.

“I am already a part of the admission committee, but there is no much clarity on the enabling committee,” said Punam Behari of Miranda House admission enabling committee.