BU gives electric scooters to PG students with disabilities

Moving within and outside the vast Bangalore University (BU) campuses just got easier for students with disabilities.

An initiative to help such students was kicked off at the Central College campus here on Saturday, with Registrar (Administration) B.C. Mylarappa giving away electric scooters to two postgraduate students.

The battery-powered scooters, priced at around Rs. 45,000, which have two extra side-wheels, are fitted with a special stand to place the user’s aids.

Mr. Mylarappa said: “All [disabled] students will be provided with a scooter; so far we have received 13 applications.” The distribution of scooters would be based on the student’s seniority.

G. Nagaraju and N. Dinesh were the pair to be given the scooters. Mr. Nagaraju, a student of women’s studies, said: “It will help me reach the campus faster from the hostel.”

An excited Mr. Dinesh, a student of sociology, said: “Apart from the regular travelling to and from the hostel, I may be able to go out, to roam, if I can.”

Both students said initiatives such as this were encouraging.

Nandini N., Director of Student Welfare, said: “We also provide these students with free hostel facilities as most of them come from rural backgrounds.”