Chennai:
She broke her spine in an accident when she was 18. Paralysed down her neck, nothing has dented Preethi Srinivasan's spirit.
Until the University of Madras denied her admission into their Counselling Psychology programme by offering a bizarre explanation: the Distance Education wing at the university does not have ramps and she can't make it to classes on the top floor.
Preethi says, "All I am left with is my voice. I want to use my condition as a source of inspiration to others so that I can learn the basics of counseling. I would like to be a motivational speaker."
The Persons with Disabilities Act assures full participation and equality in education and employment for the disabled. Experts say the university is violating the law. Advocate Sanjay Pinto says, "Where is the question of equal opportunity or full participation if they don't have the access? If what she says is true, it's shocking and insensitive."
Following a media outcry, the university says it would admit Preethi, if eligible, besides putting ramps in place. Registrar Dr G Koteswara Prasad told NDTV, "We are finding out the officials who discouraged her. We always help physically challenged; turning them down is not the university's culture. We shall look into the matter and do everything required for Preethi."
A national-level swimmer and a state-level cricket player once, Preethi now provides online content to a film-based website using a voice-based software. She has also launched a charity called "Soul Free" to help others like her.
For the university, which boasts of a five-star accreditation, it seems providing ramps for the disabled is not a priority. But Preethi isn't giving up.