Reward for helping visually impaired write exams

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, May 17

Soon, those who assist visually impaired students by writing their exams will be paid for doing it by the colleges. A notification in this regard has been issued by the Directorate of Higher Education, Chandigarh Administration. It says that for each exam, the college will give Rs 300 to the writer and up to Rs 2,000 per writer. 

However, when the students and colleges were asked about it, they were either unaware of it or are yet to implement it. Yogesh, a writer who has been with visually impaired MA student Imran since the latter’s graduation, informs that he was yet to receive any such money. A 24-year-old student of DAV College in Sector 10, Imran is pursuing his master’s in public administration. Imran had lost his vision after a surgery eight years ago. However, it failed to dampen his spirits and he continued his studies. He has already secured a job as a teacher in a government school in Baltana.

Imran met Yogesh in Class XII through a teacher at the school for the blind in Sector 26. Since then, Yogesh, a BA student at the PGGC-11, has been writing exams for Imran. However, Imran is facing a problem now because both of them have an exam on May 23 and Imran will have to look for someone else to write his exam. While Yogesh says that he was happy to help Imran and feels good about it, he is completely unaware of any such notification by the administration. When asked about it, Yogesh said, “I have been with Imran for so long that I do not need any money. However, with such a provision in place, no visually impaired student will face a problem in finding a writer”.

DAV College professors were not aware of the provision. Principal of PGGC- 11  J K Sehgal said they were yet to start paying the writers as the notification was just received.

The duo

Imran met Yogesh in Class XII through a teacher at the School for the Blind in Sector 26. Since then, Yogesh, a BA student at the PGGC-11, has been writing exams for Imran. However, Imran is facing a problem now because both of them have an exam on May 23 and Imran will have to look for someone else to write his exam.