Mangalore: 4 Students of Roman & Catherine Lobo School for Blind Excel in SSLC Exam
Media Release
Mangalore, 31 May 2014: Four students of Roman and Catherine Lobo School for the Blind, Kotekani, here brought laurels to their institution by passing SSLC examinations with distinction. Unfortunately, these visually impaired students from BPL families including Pradeep Kumar (91 per cent) from Pernankila in Udupi, Nithyananda from Karkal (90 per cent), Gururaj (84 per cent) from Nalkooru in Beltangady taluk and Anvith (88 per cent) were denied admission in aided Ganapati High School and Besant Pre-University College, here.
They were denied admission on the grounds that the special students were not ‘normal students’ and the colleges are only for normal students. The denial of seats in aided Pre-University Colleges is not only discriminatory but is violation of rights of differently abled people.
Thus Seva Bharati which runs Roman and Catherine Lobo School for the Blind filed a complaint against the 2 aided colleges, Ganapati and Besant Pre-University College principal Ashalatha, director Gomathi with state Commissioner for persons with disabilities (PWD) K S Rajanna and Karnataka Pre-University Board in Bangalore. The management of Gokarnanata Pre-University College not only admitted all 4 students but also reduced their fees. Similarly, St Agnes College also admitted a visually-impaired student Meghana from Roman and Catherine Lobo School for the Blind.
Seva Bharati decided to file a complaint against Ganapati High School and Besant Pre-University College, in order to ensure that in future differently-abled students do not face such discrimination in any colleges in Karnataka.
For more information contact:
Seva Bharati managing trustee Dr U V Shenoy (pediatrician) 9845047785.