Colleges across Delhi are taking steps towards inclusivity and accessibility through assistive technologies, mental health initiatives, support cells and student-led collectives
Launched in July this year, SUGAM is a navigation app developed by students of Delhi University’s Maitreyi College to assist students with visual impairment to independently navigate their way on campus.
“One of our visually challenged students said something that made all of us proud: ‘Not one college in Delhi University has a facility like this, where we can access our classes and move around the campus independently. ’ It makes us proud when students from other colleges visit us and say the same. It uses audio navigation to warn of obstacles on their way and counts the number of steps needed to reach their destination, creating a more equitable campus. Their friends are also proud of this innovation and often ask us to develop something similar for their colleges. Students who have worked on SUGAM, feel truly fulfilled knowing that they can become the ‘eyes’ for someone without donating their eyes,” Dr. Babita Chaudhary, faculty member of the college who was involved in the development of the app, tells us. Acknowledging the impact of academic stress on mental health, JMI’s mental health and wellness cell provides psychological first aid to students. “The University has established a Mental Health and Wellness Cell for providing mental health information, counselling, psychological first aid and creating a congenial environment for the students. The Cell actively engages with the internal institutions responsible for academic affairs, including the examination system, the discipline system, the residential facilities, the games, sports and cocurricular engagements to ensure that the students have a facilitating and enriching environment. The cell has collaborated with SPYM, a nationally recognised mental health and NGO, who are training Peer Volunteer Counsellors from amongst the students. The SPYM is also supporting the efforts of the University towards ensuring a drug-free Campus under the Nasha Mukt Abhiyan,” shares Prof Zubair Meenai, Chairperson, Mental Health and Wellness Cell and Dean, Faculty of Social Sciences.