Exams with comps for those with over 40% disability: MUHS – The Times of India

Nagpur: In a landmark decision to make examinations more accessible for students with disabilities, Maharashtra University of Health Sciences (MUHS) announced that students with a benchmark disability of over 40% can now use computers during theory exams.
Dr Aditya Lohiya, a cerebral palsy patient who is presently pursuing an MD in Respiratory Medicine at IGGMCH Nagpur, has been fighting for the cause of the disabled students.
Dr Lohiya’s commitment to inclusivity stemmed from his desire to help a fellow student from Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar who lost an exam attempt due to the time constraints associated with using a writer.
Recognising the provision in the office memorandum issued by the Union ministry of social justice & empowerment that allows use of computers for examinations, Dr Lohiya embarked on a mission to ensure this clause is implemented at medical colleges.
“I have been actively pursuing the issues of just rights of persons with benchmark disability,” Dr Lohiya remarked. “This is a great victory for students who struggle to complete exams on time due to writing limitations,” he said, adding that the head of the department of respiratory medicine at IGGMCH, Dr Radha Munje, guided and encouraged him during this mission.
Dr Lohiya sent email correspondence and took follow-ups with MUHS officials for about a month. “We received an email from Dr Lohiya in December, and we took it up for discussion in the very next meeting of the board of examination held on Jan 2,” said Dr Sandeep Kadu, controller of examination at MUHS.
“On Jan 21, we declared that this facility would be provided to students with benchmark disabilities. We also informed Dr Lohiya about the same,” Dr Kadi added.
This is a significant step towards a more inclusive educational landscape for persons with disabilities (PWDs). This decision will empower students with visual impairments, locomotor disabilities, or other writing challenges to showcase their knowledge effectively.
Dr Sofiya Azad, head of the GMCH Occupational Therapy Department, said, “This is a great step towards inclusion of PWDs and empowering them.”
The new guidelines ensure that examinations are conducted under strict CCTV surveillance to prevent any malpractice. Students will be provided with computers without internet access to ensure a fair testing environment.
INCLUSIVE DECISION
Applies to students with a benchmark disability of 40% or more
University / college to provide a computer without internet access
Examinations to be conducted under CCTV surveillance
Strict measures to be in place to prevent any malpractice
Post-exam reports and CCTV footage to be submitted to the University
CCTV footage to be saved, compressed, and password-protected immediately after the exam
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