Snapshot from the ‘State-Level Consultative Workshop for Establishing State University of Divyangjan in Jharkhand’ in Ranchi

Introduction

I’m elated to share that I was invited to participate and share my perspectives at the ‘State-Level Consultative Workshop for Establishing State University of Divyangjan in Jharkhand’ in Ranchi, Jharkhand on the 6th of August 2024. The Consultative Workshop was organized by the Jharkhand State Higher Education Council, Department of Higher and Technical Education, Government of Jharkhand in collaboration with Deepshikha, Institute of Child Development and Mental Health.

Visual/Image Description [Alt Text]: Collage of four pictures: (I) Event poster containing the program details; (II) Picture of the Opening Ceremony in the august presence of Shri Champai Soren, Hon’ble Minister of Higher and Technical Education & Water Resources, Government of Jharkhand; Sri Ramniwas Yadav, Director, Higher Education, DHTE; Sri Rahul Kumar Purwar, Principal Secretary, DHTE; Sri Vivek Singh, Jt. Registrar, Cooperative; Dr Alok Bhuwan, Managing Secretary, Manovikas, Delhi; Sri Sunil Kumar, Director, Technical Education; and Gopika Anand, Principal, Deepshikha, Institute of Child Development and Mental Health; (III) Picture of the Technical Session -1 on “General Perspective on Inclusive Universities” with the following panellists — Dr. Ajit Kumar Sinha, Vice Chancellor, Ranchi University, Ranchi; Dr. Himangshu Das, Director, National Centre for Disability Studies Indira Gandhi National Open University, Former Dy. Chief Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities (Divyangjan); Shri Pramod Kumar and Mrs. Gopika Anand, Deepshikha; Shri K V S Rao, Disability Policy Expert, Author, Life Coach & Director (Retd), DEPwD, M/o Social Justice& Empowerment, Govt of India; and Prof. Amitav Mishra, Professor of Special Education at the School of Education, Indira Gandhi National Open University; and (IV) Image of Event Proceedings.

Therein, I participated in the Introductory Session that set up the contextual background; and contributed to the Technical Sessions on “General Perspective on Inclusive Universities” and “Inclusive Design of University and Support Services”; and the Workshop on the “Blueprint for the State University” (group discussions of experts on the ‘Concept Note for the State University for Inclusive of Divyangjans in Jharkhand’ and draft legislation of the ‘Act for the State University for Inclusive of Divyangjans in Jharkhand’).

Event poster containing the program details.

Contextual Background for the Consultative Workshop

“Students with disabilities often face discrimination and neglect everywhere. In spite of the fact that the Government has Laws which prevents discrimination at any level, the reality is very different. In the present scenario a PWD is often made to feel in-cumbered. Accessibility is still very far away from the community.”

“The Department of Higher Studies, Govt of Jharkhand, proposes a university designed to cater to the needs of persons having disabilities, where every PWD can have access to any stream of their choice without inhibition. It will be a place where the confidence and motivation will remain intact while at the same time It will be an inclusive university with at least 50% seats reserved for PWDs. The Department aims to create a model centre of excellence for students with disabilities.”

Picture of the Opening Ceremony in the august presence of Shri Champai Soren, Hon’ble Minister of Higher and Technical Education & Water Resources, Government of Jharkhand; Sri Ramniwas Yadav, Director, Higher Education, DHTE; Sri Rahul Kumar Purwar, Principal Secretary, DHTE; Sri Vivek Singh, Jt. Registrar, Cooperative; Dr Alok Bhuwan, Managing Secretary, Manovikas, Delhi; Sri Sunil Kumar, Director, Technical Education; and Gopika Anand, Principal, Deepshikha, Institute of Child Development and Mental Health.

Pre-legislative Consultation Process

I look forward to continued pre-legislation consultation process in accordance with the Pre-Legislative Consultation Policy (2014) and the Manual of Parliamentary Procedure in the Government of India (2018) to explore the best legal and policy alternatives before reaching the final decision that maximizes the welfare of the disability community in general and students with disabilities in particular by ensuring inclusive education as per the principle of ‘leave no one behind’.

Picture of the Technical Session -1 on “General Perspective on Inclusive Universities” with the following panellists — Dr. Ajit Kumar Sinha, Vice Chancellor, Ranchi University, Ranchi; Dr. Himangshu Das, Director, National Centre for Disability Studies Indira Gandhi National Open University, Former Dy. Chief Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities (Divyangjan); Shri Pramod Kumar and Mrs. Gopika Anand, Deepshikha; Shri K V S Rao, Disability Policy Expert, Author, Life Coach & Director (Retd), DEPwD, M/o Social Justice& Empowerment, Govt of India; and Prof. Amitav Mishra, Professor of Special Education at the School of Education, Indira Gandhi National Open University

Pre-legislative Consultation Framework

1. Pre-legislative Consultation Policy (PLCP) [https://cdnbbsr.s3waas.gov.in/s380537a945c7aaa788ccfcdf1b99b5d8f/uploads/2023/02/2023021333.pdf]
2. Manual of Parliamentary Procedures in the Government of India (2018)
   [https://mpa.gov.in/sites/default/files/Manual2018_0_0.pdf]

Image of Event Proceedings.

Authored by —

Adv. Abhishek Kumar, Founder and Curator — The Sangyan

NCPEDP-Javed Abidi Fellow on Disability (2021–2024).

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