Eastern India’s 1st University for Students with Disabilities to be Opened in Ranchi
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The 1st ever university in eastern India for the physically challenged students by the Jharkhand Government is to be open. This university will be located among few other capitals in eastern India, in its capital city, Ranchi. This institution will provide education to the students as per their level of disability. Higher and technical education minister Champai Soren has directed officials to prepare a proposal for the university and has also focused on the importance of preparation towards university studies, establishing special courses for them, and teaching equipment for the students with disabilities. The government has also proposed a ‘Navothan Scholarship Scheme’ that will refund the full course fee of meritorious orphan and physically challenged students of the state, besides, making lodging and food arrangements for them.
Proposed Scheme : Navothan ScholarshipIn a move to extend support to the deserving orphan and physically challenged students, the Jharkhand government had decided to place the ‘Navothan Scholarship Scheme’ in the cabinet. The state government would avail the full course fee of the students without biological parents such as an orphan and physically challenged students having up to 40% disability in the fiscal year to a maximum of Rs. 10 lakh. Moreover, an annual aid of Rs 48,000 will also go to the beneficiaries under lodging and food arrangements.The plans to establish new universities were also deliberated in the meeting: Giridih, Sahebganj, Deoghar, Khunti, Gumla, and Jamshedpur—all part of the government’s efforts to develop access to higher education in diverse areas of Jharkhand.Already, existing Ranchi University further offers much undergraduate, postgraduate, and doctoral programs. However, the planned university for physically challenged students will be the first in eastern India and uniquely designed to fulfill the needs of physically challenged students .
The Significance of the Proposed University: There are several reasons that make the establishment of the proposed university for the physically challenged students in Ranchi quite significant.Promote accessibility and inclusivity: the university would like to design a learning environment inclusive and accessible to learners who have or do not have disabilities. Special courses and equipment for learning will be provided at the university that will enable students with special needs to receive education; this will help bridge the gap in educational opportunities and prepare them for higher education.Scholarship Scheme: ‘Navothan Scholarship Scheme’ for meritorious orphans and physically challenged students. Thus, the government is making possible higher education at an affordable cost to orphan and physically challenged children by giving back the full course fees and assistance in lodging and food arrangements. This scheme will help not only in relieving the financial burden but also in encouraging students who deserve it to remain at the top.
Regional Development: The universities that are being proposed to be opened at Giridih, Sahebganj, Deoghar, Khunti, Gumla, and Jamshedpur are prominent indications of the government’s willingness to ensure that all regions of Jharkhand are catered to in terms of higher education. This, in turn, would help in developing the state as a whole by implementing educational contents right at their doorstep for students belonging to these regions of the state.Impact on the Education System Opening such a university for students with disabilities will mean improvement in the education system in the state of Jharkhand. It is going to serve as an exemplar for inductive education that is going to inspire different institutions to inculcate similar practices. The university will itself present an environment to provide equal opportunities and empower these learners to chase after their academic dreams and enter into the career world.The university will further enrich the aspect of research and innovation in the field of exceptional children. This will help educators, researchers, and professionals to work collaboratively to develop advanced teaching and learning methodologies and assistive technologies to help disabled children—this, indeed, promoting positive influence not only to students within the university but also imposing a positive impact on the education sector at large.
Conclusion could be termed as a historical move for the physically challenged students of the state, more particularly from Ranchi, eastern India, to get the first-ever university in the country with a focus on inclusivity and accessibility of higher education. Apart from special courses and special equipment for educational purposes, this speaks volumes about the commitment of the government in empowering the disabled student community. This will put enough power in these students not only to get educated but also to work for the barriers themselves so that they can grow to their fullest potential.
