Disability certification for NEET: PwD candidates seek assistance

CHENNAI: As the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) qualified candidates, who have registered themselves under the differently-abled persons quota on the National Testing Agency website, were directed by Medical Counselling Committee to get their disability certificate, they continue to face troubles in obtaining the same due to improper management and lack of arrangments for people with disabilities.

In order to obtain a disability certificate in Tamil Nadu, the assigned examining specialists conduct a physical examination at Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital and evaluate the disability and their details will be uploaded to the MCC website and a certificate is generated online. "The candidates from districts other than Chennai have to travel to the city to obtain the certificate and despite numerous requests, no special arrangements are made to guide or assist us. If there is an online assignment of tokens or appointments, the issuing process can be easier," said a candidate from Villupuram.

Disability activists have requested the disability commissioner explaining the process to be a harrowing experience, with delays, overnight stays and inaccessible infrastructure. "We have requested to make visible ways of finding signs saying NEET with wheelchair icon and arrows from gates to screening venue," Vaishnavi Jayakumar, member of Disability Rights Alliance said.

She added that helpdesk at main entry of the Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital explaining arrangements and issuing tokens along with accessible shuttle vehicles for Eye Hospital would be helpful for the candidates, preparedness and accessible toilet, accommodation at shelters would be ideal.

Meanwhile, officials from the Directorate of Medical Education said that since there are limited centers that are decided by the National Testing Agency, the candidates have to travel, but we will take the demands of assistive arrangements into consideration.