In tune with the admission season, Delhi University is welcoming acid attack victims and has increased the reservation in the Persons with Disability category. The university has now set aside 5 percent for persons with disability from the previous 3 percent.
The university is garnering quite some appreciation for its decision and many have lauded the move. However, acid attack victims and well as the organisations working with them believe that the effort is too little.
"Coming up with mere reservations is not good enough; they need to provide accommodation and other facilities," Pragya Prasoon from Atijeevan foundation told Hindustan Times. "Five victims from my NGO are studying in Sathyabama University, Chennai, because they have all the provisions like on-campus hostel and transportation. People are uncomfortable to share rooms with the victims and even landlords give lame excuses."
The Acid Survivors Foundation of India too agrees that acid attack victims should be provided with more advanced facilities than just quotas. Volunteers explained that no one from their NGO has applied for these courses for the same reason. "It's impossible for survivors to travel in the heat for long. Their scars start burning. For victims to pursue education at DU, air-conditioned rooms are required," the volunteers told the daily.
They also believe that there is a lot of social stigma attached to acid attack survivors as people do not treat them well and often stare at them, which makes them uncomfortable. "Students should also be sensitised so that no one teases them," they added.
Adding to it, Ria Sharma from Make Love Not Scars, another NGO that works closely with acid attack victims said: "Most of the survivors couldn't complete their primary education because they were alienated by students and even teachers. So, first school education for them needs to be in order."
Meanwhile, student volunteers are thrilled to be helping candidates with disabilities and have been counselling them. They are also helping them fill up application forms and helping them understand the details of the course, telling them about college and academic life in general.
"I have been filling up forms for visually impaired candidates. It takes time to help them understand the fields that need to be filled up. From scanning certificates to paying the online registration fee, we help them all through," Arpita Sen told the Hindu.
Meanwhile here's the schedule of the cut-off list
First Cut-off list – June 20
Second Cut-off list – June 24
Third Cut-off list – July 1
Fourth Cut-off list – July 7
Fifth Cut-off list – July 13
Sixth Cut-off list – July 18.
