Karthik Madhavan
| Officials say that they will look into the issue in the interest of students |
COIMBATORE: Rajendran (name changed), a differently-abled engineering student, is not sure if a recent announcement of the State Government will benefit him.
The Government in the G.O. 30, dated June 28, 2010, said differently-abled students in Government and Government-aided institutions would be exempted from paying special fees.
Soon after the issuance of the order, he approached his college, Government College of Technology (GCT), Coimbatore, asking if he would be eligible. The management said he was not.
“An administrative staff clarified that only new students – those who sought admission after the issuance of the order – would be eligible and that existing students would not stand to benefit,” he said.
If Rajendran were to go by the staff's clarification he would continue to pay the fee, Rs. 5,520, as he had been paying for the past one year. And also stand to lose the benefit of another Government Order: G.O. 135 of September 20, 2008.
Order
The order said all differently-abled students of Government and Government-aided higher educational institutions would be exempted from paying fees. On October 16 the same year, the Government extended the benefit to students of engineering colleges.
Surya Nagappan of Caliber, an organisation working for the challenged people, said Government and Government-aided institutions should appreciate the spirit behind the Government issuing the orders.
“If they were to take the stand they had taken, it would go against the motives of the Government,” he said.
A senior GCT authority promised to look into the issue, keeping in mind the fact that the last date for paying fees was already over.
District Disabled Rehabilitation Officer C. Jasmine said she was aware of the problem and would soon ask for a clarification from the authorities concerned.
Meanwhile, the Bharathiar University has said in its prospectus that only those with or above 60 per cent disability were eligible for 100 per cent fee waiver.
For other it said only 25 per cent fee concession was available.
The University's announcement went against the Government Order 135 of September 20, 2008, pointed out Mr. Nagappan.
“When the Government had clearly specified that all persons with or above 40 per cent disability were eligible to avail of all schemes and benefits, how is it that the University has a separate set of standards,” he asked.
The University's stand has put prospective physically challenged students like Murugan (name changed) in trouble.
If there was no fee waiver he would not be in a position to pursue M.B.A., he said.
Asked about the 60 per cent condition, a senior University official said he would look into the issue and promised that all eligible differently-abled students in the institution stood to enjoy all benefits.
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