Orissa HC seeks report on lack of basic facilities for differently abled students at Odisha’s premiere women varsity
Bhubaneswar Oct 21 (UNI) Gross absence of basic facilities for the differently-abled girl students at the 108-year-old Shailabala Women’s Autonomous College, Cuttack, State’s oldest higher educational institution for women has come under judicial scrutiny with Orissa High Court asking the authorities to give a report in this regard.
The college, with current roll strength of more than 2,000, was the brainchild of two of the foremost pioneering spirits of Odisha, Utkal Gourav Madhusudan Das and his adopted daughter, Miss Shailabala Das.
Situated near the holy shrine of Goddess Katak Chandi, the majestic college building stands on Mission Road in Cuttack city. The plight of lack of basic facilities for 35 differently abled girl students in Shailabala Women’s Autonomous College, Cuttack, is taken on record.
It is stated that the classrooms, library, hostel and other facilities are not conducive for the differently abled. There is no wheelchair and even using the washroom is an ordeal, the Court said in an order.
Differently-abled girl students often lack basic facilities like accessible ramps, elevators, and separate, safe washrooms.
Considering the same, the Additional District Magistrate, Cuttack, who is the Nodal Officer on behalf of the District Administration is called upon to visit the College with prior intimation to the Principal of the College and take stock of the situation and take emergent measures relating to the issues which need to be addressed immediately and also place before this Court plan of action which would address the issue on a permanent basis, the High Court stated in the order.
The Commissioner-cum-Secretary of the Higher Education Department and the Commissioner-cum- Secretary of the Social Security & Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities Department shall be intimated to remain present in the next sitting on 23 October, either virtually or in person, the order concluded.
