Bhubaneswar, May 27: Women and child development secretary Arti Ahuja has asked the authorities of higher education department to provide a “level playing field” to students with disabilities.

Ahuja, in a letter to the education officials, has pointed out certain issues that need to be addressed immediately for the benefit of special students. She has expressed concerns over the non-availability of scribes (people who write exams on behalf on differently abled) for students, who are unable to write their answers themselves during examinations.

The letter reads: “In many cases, scribes are given at the last minute when the exam is approaching. This causes difficulties as the scribes are neither familiar with the speech pattern nor thought process of the examinees.”

Ahuja has suggested that scribes be allotted in time so that they have enough time to familiarise themselves with the candidates and to award the scribes with “non-monetary incentives such as certificates or letter of commendations” for motivation.

Ahuja has also emphasised on providing an extra 30 minutes of writing time for persons with disabilities. “In many colleges and universities, this is being denied on grounds of insufficient staff and non-availability of invigilators beyond the stipulated time,” she said.

Ahuja has appealed for broadening the coverage area of Banishree scholarship.

“The state government has recently introduced another scholarship scheme for children whose parents suffer from disabilities. This should be popularised in the higher education institutions,” Ahuja has mentioned in her letter.