New Delhi: Government on Friday said it will
examine the issue of providing fellowship to physically
challenged students for pursuing their research with "serious
consideration".
On receiving a request in this regard from a visually
challenged student here at a national workshop, Union Minister
of Social Justice and Empowerment Mukul Wasnik today said, "We
will examine the issue... I think this is the suggestion that
needs serious consideration. I will do my best to see that
your request is through."
In a novel gesture, Wasnik agreed to pledge his support
by donating his one month salary as the dean and director of
School of International Studies.
JNU Professor Yogesh Tyagi sought his contribution
quickly, proposing to start a fellowship scheme for the
physically challenge students of his unit.
Wasnik was chairing a workshop when the visually
challenged student on behalf of JNU visually challenged forum
came with his request to either extend financial assistance to
disable persons under Rajiv Gandhi National Fellowship (RGNF)
which is meant for SC and ST students only or Dr Maulana Abul
Kalam Azad fellowship ((MAKAF) which is likely to be announced
soon for the minority research scholars.
The ministry provides scholarship to physically
challenged students for pursuing their post-matric studies,
graduation and post graduate programmes but does not
specifically offer any fellowship to them.
"The financial assistance being extended to the needy
students pursuing higher education is particularly laudable.
Unfortunately, enough persons with disability find no place in
either of the two schemes (RGNF and MAKAF)," the
visually-challenged student Anwaram said.
He requested the minister to take "appropriate
measures" either to include persons with disability in the
existing fellowship schemes or launch a special national
scheme for them.
Earlier, while addressing the workshop, the minister said
it was the responsibility of all to extend all possible
support to these sections (disabled) of the society.
"Most of us, rather almost all of us are disabled in some
respect or the other. Some may be economically, some may
be politically, socially, educationally, intellectually...
many of us are privileged, many of us are under privileged.
Many of are not privileged at all, many of us do not get the
recognition like human beings and that I have rights," he
said.
"We should be recognised as a human being and I think
our task, our mission should be to care and support those who
are underprivileged," he added.
Referring to the 2001 Census, Wasnik said it was almost
about 21.9 million people across the country who came under
the category of persons with disability.
"This figure is huge and therefore we have to have a
mechanism in place which provides them their rights and that
on time," he said.
PTI
First Published: Friday, February 12, 2010, 21:24