The Empowered Committee for Differently Abled Persons (ECDAP) of the University of Hyderabad (UoH) handed over a three-wheeler scooter to Harsh Raj, a PhD scholar with more than 80 per cent of locomotor disability.
Prof Ramaswamy Shamanna, the Chairman, ECDAP, said that ECDAP is a special unit catering to the special needs of students and staff with disabilities in the UoH.
In an important initiative towards physical accessibility, the ECDAP installed accessible and certified elevators in every academic and administrative block of the campus some years ago. That initiative has ended a major roadblock for people with physical disabilities and other mobility needs in accessing administrative services and academic activities without much assistance.
Given the geographical diversity and vast area of the campus, accessibility still remains a challenge. To address this in a small measure, at least for those who have severe mobility needs, the university acquired a three-wheeler scooter and a battery wheelchair. These vehicles are issued to deserving students with severe locomotor disabilities for their use on campus.
Harsh Raj, who received a three-wheeler scooter, has more than 80 per cent locomotor disability and yet is a determined scholar with remarkable academic and professional credentials. He has a Masters degree in Economics from the Delhi School of Economics and a few years of work experience in the corporate sector before joining the UoH for his doctoral research.
