Dear Colleagues,
In a significant step toward ensuring accessibility for persons with disabilities, the State Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities in Rajasthan, Mr. Umashankar Sharma, has taken suo motu cognizance of the absence of disabled-friendly infrastructure in private schools. More than 40,000 private schools across the state are reported to be lacking the necessary facilities to accommodate students with disabilities which is a mandate of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act 2016.
The Commissioner has directed the Rajasthan School Education Department to impose a fine of ₹25,000 on each non-compliant school. The fines collected will be deposited into the Chief Minister’s Fund, which will be used to install disabled-friendly infrastructure in schools that currently do not meet the required standards. He also added that an audit will be conducted to identify and penalize schools that have failed to meet these essential requirements.
In addition to addressing school infrastructure, the Commissioner has turned attention to higher education institutions. Show-cause notices have been issued to three private universities in Jaipur for failing to reserve 5% of seats for persons with disabilities (PWD) as required by law. Despite receiving government benefits such as land subsidies, these universities have not implemented the mandated quota for PWD students. The Commissioner has directed the Higher Education Department to take immediate action against these institutions.
This decision underscores the importance of inclusive education and holds educational institutions accountable for creating accessible environments for all students. It is a reminder of the ongoing legal and societal efforts to secure the rights of persons with disabilities in India.
At Disability Rights India, we will continue to monitor the legal developments surrounding accessibility and inclusion for persons with disabilities in educational settings and keep our patrons informed.
Media coverage: Times of India