Srinagar: The Department of Social Work (DoSW) University of Kashmir on Thursday organised a felicitation ceremony in honour of Pama Shri awardee, Javed Ahmad Tak.
Tak, an alumnus of DoSW, was recently awarded Padma Shri for his outstanding work in promoting and advocating rights of specially-abled persons in Jammu and Kashmir.
Acting Vice-Chancellor Prof Nilofar Khan chaired the felicitation ceremony as chief guest.
In her presidential address, Prof Khan said the University is committed to provide the best facilities to the specially-abled persons and facilitate their access to quality education.
She said the University of Kashmir is conscious of the needs and requirements of persons with special needs and shall leave no stone unturned to make sure that appropriate frameworks and policies are formed and adopted in this regard.
“It is a moment of honour for us to felicitate Javed Tak, who has done a commendable job in promoting the rights and needs of specially-abled persons,” she said.
KU Registrar Dr Nisar A Mir, who was a guest of honour, congratulated Javed Tak on behalf of the entire University and on behalf of Vice-Chancellor Prof Talat Ahmad on receiving the Padma Shri honour.
“There is a challenge before all of us. We all have to share our portion of responsibility to do whatever we can to ease the problems faced by specially-abled persons and ensure that they don’t feel neglected in any manner,” he said.
He said the University, while it ensures that all requisite facilities are in place for persons with special needs, can also explore the possibility of having a special scholarship scheme for them.
In his keynote address, special invitee Javed Tak highlighted the needs and rights of specially-abled persons in educational institutions.
He said disability is a challenge and not a bad name or punishment.
Tak said as per several reports and surveys, 8% of J&K’s population has one or the other form of disability. “Our educational institutions will have to take a frontal role in empowering specially-abled persons in real sense by ensuring their access to different facilities and amenities while protecting their rights in admissions and examinations,” he said.
