Lucknow: Dr Shakuntala Misra National Rehabilitation University (DSMNRU) should be granted special status in recognition of its unique model of inclusive education, where students with disabilities and non-disabled students study together, Rajya Sabha MP C. Sadanandan Master said while addressing the university’s 13th convocation on Friday.Calling DSMNRU one of the country’s few institutions offering truly inclusive higher education, Sadanandan said granting it special status would strengthen teaching, research, rehabilitation services and assistive technology while helping India emerge as a global leader in disability studies and inclusive education.Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities Narendra Kashyap digitally uploaded students’ degrees to DigiLocker during the ceremony. He said Uttar Pradesh is the only state in the country to have two specialised universities dedicated to persons with disabilities, the other being Jagadguru Rambhadracharya Divyang State University, Chitrakoot.Highlighting the university’s achievements, Kashyap referred to BBA student Sanjana Kumari’s bronze medal at the Indonesia Para Badminton International Tournament 2025 and said students of the university are securing placement offers with annual packages of over Rs 13 lakh.Vice-chancellor Prof Sanjay Singh outlined the university’s academic achievements and recent initiatives. The convocation also featured simultaneous sign language interpretation of all proceedings, ensuring accessibility for hearing-impaired participants.Governor flags campus shortcomingsAdditional chief secretary to governor and chancellor Anandiben Patel, Sudhir M. Bobde, said the governor had initiated campus inspections ahead of convocation ceremonies and that her inspection of DSMNRU, conducted two days earlier, identified issues related to cleanliness and infrastructure. He said the university had been asked to take corrective measures at the earliest. Reading out the Governor’s address, Bobde congratulated the university on being recognised as a Centre of Excellence by the Rehabilitation Council of India. He highlighted initiatives such as the Sugandh Path project, which enables visually impaired students to navigate the campus through fragrant plants, AI-powered smart vision glasses for visually impaired students, and the laptop-based examination system for visually impaired students without scribes. He added that the university’s Artificial Limb and Rehabilitation Centre has so far benefited more than 7,000 persons with disabilities through free consultations and distributed over 6,600 assistive devices.27 disabled students bag 45 medalsStudents with disabilities accounted for a significant share of honours at the convocation, with 27 students winning 45 of the 156 medals awarded. A total of 1,921 students received degrees, including 956 women and 965 men, while 17 scholars were conferred PhD degrees. Overall, 130 meritorious students received 156 medals—76 gold, 40 silver and 40 bronze. Female students outperformed their male counterparts, winning 91 medals, compared to 65 medals secured by male students.
