CAMPUS
Is UPSC giving a raw deal to disabled?
Smriti Kak

The National Centre for Promotion of Employment for Disabled People (NCPEDP) has decided to challenge what they allege is "discriminatory behaviour by the UPSC" towards the disabled.

"Though the UPSC has made itself disabled-friendly as an institution, it has failed on other counts," said the Executive Director, NCPEDP, Javed Abidi.

He recalled, "couple of years ago it was a hearing impaired boy from Kerela who despite his meritorious performance was denied a chance to join the services, then it was a candidate with low vision who having cleared the hurdles of the prelims, the mains and the interview were rejected on the basis of the physical test. And now there are two more candidates who despite very high ranks have been accommodated in services below their ranks."

A student of Shri Ram College of Commerce, Permanent Secretary of South Asian Federation of Accountants, Dr Ashok Haldia, and the panel of judges during an inter-college competition organised by the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India and Shri Ram College of Commerce on the occasion of SAARC Charter Day.

A livid Abidi points out, "the DoPT has to change it rules, who decides the extent of disability and what is disability. What about the senior officers who despite disabilities post joining the services continue to work? If those officials have managed to work, then why discriminate against the new recruits."

The NCEPDP has now planned a campaign against the "discriminatory practices that are being followed by the DoPT in Civil Service". Says Abidi, "candidates who made it to the services on the basis of merit not through the disabled quota deserve a chance. I agree that those with disability cannot be selected for IPS, but there are so many other services including the IAS, the Information Services where they are capable of holding posts."

Asserting the ability of the disabled to perform well, Abidi points out, "I have come across so many senior officers with disability performing well. If the government cannot form a policy then it better do something about the officers who are already serving and with disabilities."

He adds, "making provisions for writing an exam are not enough.

Plea from Teachers’ body

Having obtained the go ahead from the Delhi University Teachers Association (DUTA) general body (GB), the Executive is all set to create "pressure" on the UGC.

In a meeting, which was convened here, the GB had asked the Executive to "generate pressure on the UGC, University through any form of struggle or agitation to defeat the designs of downsizing the number of teachers at the cost of academic health. And also to meet the long standing demands on restoration of promotion to professorship, third promotion, parity to librarians, implementation of career advancement scheme from 1996, effective medical benefits and option for choosing GPF instead of CPF."

DUTA executives also pointed out that on the basis of the feedback received from various staff associations, they feel that tutorials and perceptorials in science subjects must be introduced and required teachers must be provided for the same. Full time regular teachers should be appointed in the beginning of the session and specialised full-fledged secretarial staff assistance should be provided for handling the work related to attendance, assignments and for preservation of answer scripts of the mid term exams.

The members have also called for the "restructuring of BA course on a democratic basis with the involvement of the teachers who were teaching BA pass course."

The teachers’ body has also raised objections to the decision of holding contact classes without providing the necessary infrastructure.

Management journal

Union Minister Vijay Kumar Malhotra inaugurated the BLS Institute of Management’s half-yearly management journal ‘Synthesis’.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr Malhotra praised the quality of education provided at the institute and also lauded the efforts of the students who have made a name for themselves in the country.

Chairman of the BLS Institute of Management Sushil Aggarwal in his inaugural speech said the Synthesis is a compendium of research papers and contemporary articles by scholars in various fields of management.

He said the future issues of the journal would make significant background for new areas of research in management through its research debates on contemporary issues.

The institute is affiliated to Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University.

Kapoor offered chancellor’s post

AAFT chief Sandeep Marwah, film producer Boney Kapoor and actress Sridevi at a function.

The Society of Media Arts has offered the post of chancellor to film producer Boney Kapoor, who is reported to have shown interest. The University of Media Arts is the first film university in the country. While Dr S. Mahalingam has been proposed to be the Pro vice-chancellor, Kapoor has been offered the Chancellor’s post.

This was disclosed at the launch of the bouquet of 31 short digital films being produced by Sandeep Marwah. Kapoor who came for the launch along with the wife and actress Sridevi, said that he would consider taking up the post and added that he will support all the institutions of the Media Arts Society.

Amity joins hands with Spain

Amity has joined hands with the Universtat Internacional de Catalunya (UIC) of Barcelona, Spain, to promote collaborative teaching, research and service activities and also deepen the understanding of the economic, cultural and social issues relevant to Spain and India.

The MoU to the effect was signed by Mr Atul Chauhan, President, RBEF and Dr Jodi Cervos, Rector Emeritus, UIC. As per the agreement, both the institutions will explore ways to assist each other in development of curricula and training of faculty and research.

"UIC and Amity would receive pre-determined number of baccalaureate, master’s and doctoral students from the partner institute for a specified period of study or research," said Dr Cervos.

Students and faculty exchange, interchange of teaching, research and services ideas, symposia, conferences and short courses will be part of the agreement.

Outreach at NIIT centres

Project Outreach, a Delhi-based public private partnership of NIS Sparta, NIIT and United Nations Development Program (UNDP) for creating awareness among the student community and youth on HIV and AIDS, is set to be expanded to all NIIT centres across the country across India covering over six lakh students.

A cross section of the NIIT students who are a part of this innovative ‘peer educator’ model of learning and sharing on the sociological and development aspects of the pandemic, made a presentation on the initiative here recently.

The UN Resident Co-ordinator & Resident Representative, Dr Maxine Olson, the Chairman and Founder of NIIT, Mr Rajendra Pawar and the CEO and President of NIS Sparta, Mr Sanjeev Duggal participated in the presentation ceremony. Students in the age group of 15-25 spoke about their entry into the project and how the program proved to be an eye opener on various aspects of the epidemic for them.

The project, initiated in the year 2002, is aimed at generating awareness on AIDS related issues and addressing the inhibitions of the individuals through behavioural transformation. The pilot project initiated in the NIIT South Extension branch is being carried forward to all NIIT centres across India catering to about 6 lakh students. The NIIT centres were chosen for the project because it has the potential to reach out to the youth and use their energy in preventing the spread of HIV epidemic. The NIIT students also made presentations on the Project Outreach.