Times of India
02 September 2010
Jaipur, India

Malaviya National Institute of Technology (MNIT) has become the first institute in the city to follow the Supreme Court guidelines to build ramps and provide wheelchairs to differently–abled students. The campus has over a dozen students who suffer from various disabilities such as dystonia, multiple sclerosis and spinal disorders.

Dinesh Suthar, a computer science student said, "The ramps have made our life much easier. Now I can easily park my cycle and walk on the ramps to reach the corridor. " Inspired by astrophysicist, Stephen Hawking, Dinesh wants to work towards making life easier for students like him. M S Gaur, dean students affairs, said, "We’ll take steps to make MNIT a disabled–friendly campus. We are committed to provide them with every possible assistance. "

Like Dinesh, for Ramesh Kumar Meena, a civil engineering student, walking from the parking lot to his class is a painful exercise. Ramesh suffers from spinal disorder and therefore, cannot stand properly. "Since childhood I have loved to build structures. While moving on the road, I observe the design of every building and sketch that design at home. " Ramesh wants to build disabledfriendly structures.

Harshid Khudesiya, a native of Bareilly, who suffers from dystonia wants to open an NGO that would work for differently–abled students. Due to neurological movement disorder, Harshid finds walking and talking difficult.

A student of computer science, staying in competition in the class is a challenge for Harshid. "I have to pay more attention in the classroom as I sometimes cannot keep pace with the rate of speech of teachers and students, " he said.

The institute has promised financial assistance to these students, if required. R P Dahiya, director, MNIT said, "We do not want any student to suffer due to his disability. "