Campus Connect: Pune’s Modern College scores in inclusion

In a bid to give a common platform and make the learning process easier for blind students, the Modern College of Arts, Science and Commerce at Shivajinagar has launched several initiatives.

The college administration has developed a blind-friendly college website. It has given the blind students job opportunities through the earn and learn scheme. The blind students are made to participate in college competitions. The administration also helps blind students get scholarships.

The college also has an audio notice board for blind students.

“Currently we have 55 blind students in various UG and PG courses in our college and every year we try to include something new for the blind students to make their academic pursuit easier. We have ramps, lifts and wheelchairs at the campus for disabled students. Sensors have been installed on the walkway so that the sticks used by blind students will recognise the steps ahead. We help blind students get scholarship from various organisations like Wadekar Pratishthan Pune,” said Rajendra Zunjarrao, principal of the college.

Recently, the college started the computer training unit, specially designed with audio output computers for the blind students. The blind students type, browse the internet and make their project reports in the computer training unit. The college also has an audio notice board where students listen to important college notices from all streams in audio format.

Dwelling into more details about the initiative taken by the college, R N Ingole, vice-principal of the college, said, “For the benefit of blind students, we have distributed Angel devices through which students record and hear the lessons taught. An easily accessible website is designed by the college where these students can listen to all the content after taking the cursor on every section of the website. Four students are currently working in the college under the ‘earn and learn’ scheme at the reception enquiry desk. Many of our students have participated in state-level and inter-college music competitions and other University level competitions.”

Thanks to the facilities provided to the blind students, they are able to pursue education.

Shubham Gaikwad, a second year Arts students who is a singer and who works under ‘earn and learn’ scheme said, “I have been studying in this college for the last four years, This college is as safe and joyful as my home. All my friends who have this disability also feel the same. College, faculties, fellow students and everyone at campus are so caring. Their affection and support help us become self confident. We practice in the computer lab, work at reception and also participate in various events. No other college in the city has so many facilities for the blind students. Recognition and empowerment given here is absolutely unique. “