Pondicherry University Vice Chancellor P Prakash Babu and others with the members of the first batch of physically challenged civil services aspirants.
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Special Arrangement
Pondicherry University has rolled out a free coaching programme to help physically challenged aspirants prepare for civil services examination.
The coaching programme for the UPSC examination is a joint initiative of the Enabling Unit, or the Higher Education for Persons with Special Needs Cell under the Centre for Study of Social Inclusion, Department of Management Studies, Ananda Ranga Pillai Library and the UGC-Malaviya Mission Teacher Training Centre of Pondicherry University.
A press note credited the Pondicherry University for being the first among Central Universities to take up the cause of serving the disabled with its free coaching for writing the UPSC examinations and added that many more universities were looking to follow suit.
Addressing the inaugural function of the programme held recently, Rajesh Aggarwal, Secretary, Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities, Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, lauded the Pondicherry University for being a pioneer among Central Universities for starting a coaching programme, exclusively for disabled aspirants.
Pointing to the 4% reservation available for disabled persons in all government jobs, the official expressed disappointment over many such reserved jobs lying vacant due to non-availability of candidates from the disabled category. In light of this, Mr. Aggarwal urged the physically challenged candidates to fully avail of the coaching facility that was a gateway to a job in the civil services.
P. Prakash Babu, Vice-Chancellor of Pondicherry University, said the institution was keen to initiate similar programmes for the welfare and empowerment of disabled persons through the year.
S. Govindaraj, Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities, New Delhi, in his key note address, underscored the need for reservation for different types of disability and called for more such programmes to equip physically challenged aspirants for empowering jobs.
N. Annavaram from University of Hyderabad delivered a special address. Rajneesh Bhutani, Registrar, Pondicherry University, A. Chidambaram, Nodal Officer for the programme, Binu Zachariah, Liaison Officer for the Disabled, and G. Madan Mohan, Management Studies faculty, also spoke on the occasion.
Published – September 09, 2025 08:23 pm IST
