Prayas- An Initiative Towards Equality

Delhi University:

  • 17-09-2014

“Equality, inclusiveness and rights” are the the rights of everyone, irrespective of where one is. And it is the same for so called People With Disability (PWD) who fought for the equality in government/government aided universities throughout the years and continue to struggle to gain equal rights. In this series, the University Grants Commission (UGC) directed the universities to set up a university level regulatory Equal Opportunity Cell (EOC) to ensure the equal participation and equal opportunities for the person’s with disability. University of Delhi adapted this rule in 2006 and establish an EOC in the university’s Arts Faculty. The university directed the same to its college affiliates so that no problems could go unheard.

In this way, Kirori Mal College (KMC) started its enabling unit naming the society “Committee for the Physically Challenged people”. All the way through the years, it has undergone through many ups and downs but never missed a chance to hit the gold. In 2013, three physically challenged students Ranveer Singh Rajput, Pushalal Ganesh and Rakesh Sharma represented the University at the King’s College London and helped University of Delhi in dealing with accessibility issues. At many events, the society has sent its students to represent the college in various of sports, cultural and other activities where the students have gained the praise.

Last two years have been a golden period for the society when some well known people, working in the fields of disability have shared their thoughts and encouraged the students altogether, they’ve helped in the sensitisation amongst the students. The names are few: P.K. Pincha, Chief Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities, Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Dr. Uma Tuli Founder & Managing Secretary of Amar Jyoti Charitable Trust, Mr. George Abraham, Founder CEO Score foundation and World Blind Cricket Association and Renu Adlakha, working in the field of mental retardation and mental illness have marked their presence.

Questioning the suitability of society’s name ‘Committee for the physically challenged’, Dr. Someshwar Sati, Convener and the driving force behind the society, managed to changed it’s name into “Prayas” and helped establishing its own volunteer panel with at least 45 students and 7 teachers from different departments who help visually challenged people in their reading-writing needs and volunteer in their cultural and sports activities altogether.

In its recent events, Prayas successfully organized White Cane Walk on International White Cane Day, 15th of October 2013 in collaboration with Save the Quest. Following the series of events it organized its annual named Leher on 15th and 16th February 2014 and Orientation on August 27th 2014. Light has been thrown on various topics such as disability and inclusiveness.

Newly named Prayas, but with it’s old establishment, has a long way to go in achieving its goals where in future there will be no accessibility issues for anyone, where everyone will stand on equal stance.

[author ]Contributed by Mithilesh Yadav[/author]

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