12 special students register on Day 1

NEW DELHI: Just 12 candidates registered for Delhi University colleges under the differently abled category on the first day of the admission process on Saturday.
Unlike previous years when BA Programme used to be a preferred course for this category, many candidates on Saturday opted to apply for BCom and BA (honours) economics in colleges like SRCC, Hans Raj, Kirori Mal and SGTB Khalsa.An orientation will be organized for all the admitted candidates on July 19.
DU sets aside nearly 1,620 seats - nearly 3% of total number of seats - for candidates with special needs. However, the response of candidates in this category has not been too encouraging with only 443 students admitted last year and 397 in the year before that. This year, the registration process for the differently abled will continue till June 8. Of the 12 candidates who registered on Saturday, seven had loco motor problems, two were hearing-impaired, two others could not see and one was dyslexic.
DU's Equal Opportunity Cell (EOC) has deployed 11 trained volunteers to guide the candidates through the registration process and also counsel them if required.
"We also have interpreters for the hearing-impaired who know the sign language. Besides, there are copies of the form and the information bulletin in Braille as well as audio aids for the candidates. The candiates have to appear in person to register for admission and the whole atmosphere is quite friendly and comfortable," said Chandra Nisha Singh, officer on special duty, EOC, which is assisting the office of the dean of students' welfare in the admission process.
Any candidate with minimum 40% disability is eligible for applying under this category. The candidates have to bring their Class XII marksheet, Class X certificate and a disability certificate not more than five years old, Singh said. "We had also requested the government to facilitate the issue of disability certificates to such candidates. They have decided to hold a camp for this purpose at Bara Hindu Rao Hospital on June 6 and 7," she said. After registration, candidates also have to appear before a medical board.