Siliguri, April 23: North Bengal University has begun the work of creating barrier-free accesses to its buildings in order to facilitate the movement of disabled persons.

While the initiatives are in keeping with the tenets of the Persons with Disabilities (Equal Opportunities, Protection of Rights & Full Participation) Act, 1995, they are also part of the varsity’s long-term plans of setting up a centre for special persons.

“We have begun the work of constructing ramps and rails at the major entry points of three important buildings —library and the administrative and humanities blocks,” said vice-chancellor Arunabha Basumajumdar. “In due course, all our buildings will have ramps, rails, lifts and disability-friendly toilets with wheelchair access.”

Basumajumdar also said the university had decided to take up a project of setting up a centre for differently-abled persons. “We have submitted a proposal to the University Grants Commission (UGC).”

“We are expecting a UGC team to come and inspect the campus before giving the final nod to the centre. Among other things, the centre will publish books in Braille, promote knowledge and awareness of disability and help in mainstreaming special persons,” said the VC.

“It is a major project during our 11th Five Year Plan period and we expect to carry it out in a phase-wise manner,” said Minakshi Chakraborty, the development officer of the NBU. “The funds will come from the UGC. The ongoing work is funded by the varsity itself,” he added.

Rita Sengupta, a special-persons’ rights activists and member of the North Bengal Council for the Disabled, welcomed the step taken by the NBU. “It (easy access) was long overdue,” she said. “We are happy that the varsity has taken up a pioneering role and hope others will follow suit soon.”

Eighteen years after the disabilities act came into force, the NBU is the first public building to become disability-sensitive in the region.

“Other than the airport, railway station and some primary and upper-primary schools (which get funds from the Sarva Siksha Mission for disability-friendly constructions), no government building has provisions for unhi ndered movement of challenged people,” said Sengupta.

“So much so that even the only town hall in Siliguri (Dinbandhu Manch) is not equipped to handle the movement of physically-challenged persons,” Sengupta added.