The Mahatma Gandhi Divyang University, Jodhpur Bill of 2023 was passed in the assembly on Wednesday. The bill aims to establish the Mahatma Gandhi Divyang University in Jodhpur. This university will focus on promoting rehabilitation, conducting research, and providing higher education to individuals with disabilities.
The proposed Act sets aside Rs 25 crore for the construction of the university. The university will be modeled after the Baba Amte Divyang Vishwavidyalaya in Jamdoli, Jaipur.
As per the bill, the university will be a multi-disciplinary institution that will offer better opportunities for advanced studies and research to individuals with disabilities in the state.
The bill states that the objectives of the university include facilitating and promoting studies, research, and extension work in various areas related to rehabilitation. This includes courses focusing on benchmark disabilities, rehabilitation engineering/technology, community-based rehabilitation, rehabilitation psychology, speech therapy, vocational counseling and rehabilitation, yoga, Panchakarma therapy, sociology, social work, and administration. These courses will be taught through traditional classroom teaching as well as distance education.
Tikaram Jully, the Minister of Social Justice and Empowerment, presented the bill in the assembly. He informed that in the first phase, the university will offer courses such as D.Ed. Intellectual Disability, B.Ed. Intellectual Disability, D.Ed. Hearing Impaired Disability, B.Ed. Hearing Impaired Disability, and a Diploma in Sign Language Interpreter.
In the second phase, courses such as BA Hindi, English, History, Economics, Political Science, Sociology, Social Work, and Psychology will be taught. Additional courses in Occupational Therapy, Physiotherapy, Speech Therapy, Vocational Therapy, Diploma in Yoga, Diploma in Ayurveda Nursing, and Diploma in Panchakarma Therapy will also be offered, and a Panchkarma center will be established.
The minister further shared that in the third phase, the university plans to introduce courses related to law, engineering, and science and technology.