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Many visually challenged students on Monday mentioned they had been unable to take the check on the primary day of Delhi University’s (DU) online open-book exams (OBE) for final-year undergraduate and postgraduate students, on account of unavailability of scribes and assistive units.

The college had earlier mentioned visually impaired students showing within the exams might search its assist in getting scribes on the frequent service centres (CSCs) — services created below the ministry of electronics and data expertise — or their campuses. The college had requested schools to supply assist materials to all visually challenged students.

There are round 400 visually challenged final-year students in undergraduate and postgraduate programs. It was not but recognized how many took the check as DU was nonetheless gathering information from schools.

But many students alleged they weren’t offered scribes, assistive units and related research materials by their schools. Roshan Kumar, 19, a final-year BA (prog) scholar at Ramjas College, was amongst those that couldn’t take the exam on Monday.

“We cannot read printed books. We use two types of devices. One is a laptop or netbook with a screen reader software and another is DAISY (digital accessible information system) players. These players have recorded study material. We could not get anything since colleges are closed in view of the pandemic. It was impossible for me to prepare for exams without all this,” mentioned Kumar, a first-generation learner from west Delhi’s Nawada.

Manoj Khanna, principal of Ramjas College, mentioned all visually impaired students bought audio research materials. “We had informed students that they can visit the campus and avail of the facility of scribes. A visually challenged student will come this week to write his exam with the help of a scribe provided by the college,” he mentioned.

Then there have been students caught in several elements of the nation amid the Covid-19 pandemic, who couldn’t get scribes. Deepak Gupta, 23, a visually impaired scholar learning MA in English, mentioned he couldn’t organize for a scribe in his dwelling city in Bihar. “I could not appear in the exam on Monday. It was not possible for me to travel to Delhi at this time. We do not have proper study material at home. We used to take help of our classmates in audio recording study material. Nothing such happened this time amid the pandemic,” he mentioned.

Ramjastan, a BA (prog) final-year scholar at a south campus school and a resident of Uttar Pradesh’s Sultanpur, additionally couldn’t take the exam. “I did not have the prescribed study material in accessible form to study. The college asked me to visit the campus if I needed a scribe. When other students are not called to the campus amid the pandemic, why have students with disabilities have to go?”

Preevi, 20, a final-year BA (English Hons) scholar at Miranda House, mentioned she won’t be able to look Tuesday’s exam additionally. “I am stuck in my home town Varanasi due to the prevailing situation. The college had asked me to come to the campus if I want a scribe. It’s absolutely unsafe to travel at this time. I have no idea when I will get another opportunity to appear in the exams now,” she mentioned.

Bijayalaxmi Nanda, principal of Miranda House, mentioned, “We have set up a support system at our college campus for students with disabilities. But it was not possible to provide scribes in different parts of the country amid the pandemic.”

Despite a number of makes an attempt, DU dean of exam, Vinay Gupta, didn’t reply to calls and texts despatched for a remark. A member of the examination department, who wished to not be named, mentioned, “The online exam is optional and all students will get another chance to write the exam.”

Senior advocate SK Rungta, who has filed a petition within the Delhi High Court on behalf of the National Federation of Blind (NFB), looking for efficient mechanisms for visually impaired and specifically abled students for the online exam, mentioned, “The university and UGC should consider promoting of these students on the basis their internal exams. We will soon move Supreme Court, demanding the same.”

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