It was short-lived excitement for some research scholars of Bangalore University with physical disabilities.
On Saturday morning, they were thrilled when the authorities asked them to attend a laptop distribution programme, but then their dreams were shattered when they were asked to return them after the ceremony.
As many as six students attended the programme and, flanked by officials, they even clicked pictures with the laptops.
However, officials later told them to return the laptops and informed them these were meant for research scholars belonging to the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes community.
While the university authorities confirmed that the laptops were meant for 124 SCs and STs research scholars and the event was organised by the SCs and STs cell, they did not explain why the students with physical disabilities were called for the event.
Recalling the incident, Dhananjay M., a research scholar at Economics Department, said that he felt deeply “humiliated” when the authorities asked him to return the laptop.
“We did not ask for the laptop and the authorities invited us to the event. After they clicked pictures, they asked us to leave and said that the laptops were not meant for us. Many students were so embarrassed that they broke down on Saturday evening,” he asked.
Another research scholar said, “Immediately after the programme ended, they snatched the laptops from us. We did not know what was going on and roamed around the entire university till night, only to be told we would not get any laptops.”
Meanwhile, university authorities claimed that the event took place due to a misunderstanding.
“There were only 124 laptops meant for SCs and STs students. How can we give this laptop to other students? This happened due to friction between two groups and their misunderstanding,” an official said.
Terming it a “minor issue”, B. Thimme Gowda, Vice-Chancellor promised to rectify the mistake soon.
“We will ensure that these students get the laptops on Monday and will sort it out,” he said.