Despite rights panel nudge, PU yet to build ramp for PwDs
Chandigarh: Despite being flagged by the Punjab State Human Rights Commission (PSHRC) and receiving a perfect score in the National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) 2024 for "facilities for physically challenged students", Panjab University (PU) still lacks a basic access ramp at the fee counter inside the on-campus SBI branch — a facility nearly every student visits while studying at the campus.
Over seven months after the PSHRC issued a notice to PU, the university claims that the responsibility of building the ramp lies with the bank. A university official said the layout plan was prepared by the PU architect office and cost estimates were submitted to SBI representatives in Jan. "We are now awaiting action from the bank," the official said.
In its reply to the commission dated Nov 11, 2024, PU had stated that it was working with SBI on finalising a revised ramp layout, after which construction would begin.
The university also listed a campus-wide accessibility audit, a Rs 755 crore compliance estimate under the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, and a funding proposal under the Centre's SIPDA scheme. But even after these claims, there is no physical progress on the ground.
While PU maintains that most buildings are accessible "up to the plinth level" and that ramps and accessible washrooms are built "on request," the lack of basic access at a high-footfall service like the fee counter has raised repeated questions about the gap between official paperwork and lived campus reality.
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Unsigned reply draws flak
As per information received, the document submitted to the PSHRC was unsigned and carried no name or designation of any responsible official. The commission then directed PU to file a signed reply at least a week before the next hearing — May 29, 2025. With no response received, the matter has now been adjourned to Sept 23.
Registrar Prof Y P Verma said the earlier reply was prepared by the equal opportunity cell for PwDs which was sent to the commission. "It generally has a cover letter mentioning the office from which it is issued. But if the commission is specifically seeking a signed reply, we will submit it again," he said.
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