Jagadguru Rambhadracharya Handicapped University


Jagadguru Rambhadracharya Handicapped University is a government aided university in Chitrakoot, Uttar Pradesh, India. This is the only university exclusively for the disabled in India and the world.
It was established on 27 September 2001 by Jagadguru Rambhadracharya and is run by the Jagadguru Rambhadracharya Viklang Shikshan Sansthan trust. The university was created by an ordinance by the Uttar Pradesh government, which was later passed as the Uttar Pradesh State Act 32 by the Uttar Pradesh legislature. The act appointed Jagadguru Rambhadracharya as the lifelong chancellor.
The university offers graduate, post-graduate and doctorate degrees in concentrations including Sanskrit, Hindi, English, Sociology, Psychology, Fine Arts, Special Education, Education, History, Culture & Archeology, Computer & Information Sciences, Vocational Education, Law, Economics, and Prosthetics and Orthotics. It plans to start offering courses in Ayurveda and Medical Sciences from 2013. Admissions are restricted to the four types of disabled students: visually impaired, hearing impaired, mobility impaired and mentally impaired, as defined by the Disability Act of the Government of India. 354 disabled students were awarded degrees in the second convocation of the university held in March 2010. In the third convocation held in January 2011, 388 students were awarded degrees. All of the facilities, such as classrooms, hostel, laboratory, etc., are accessible and adapted for the disabled. An International Ramcharitmanas Research Center isin the university.
The majority of students are from Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Madhya Pradesh. However, students have come from Assam, Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh and Uttarakhand.
Student of this university SURYA DEV SINGH, at the National youth parliament festival 2019 held at Vigyan Bhawan, Delhi on 27 February 2019 under the chairmanship of Hon'ble Prime minister Narendra Modi under the joint aegis of Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports Development and National Service Scheme. Represented constituency Banda Chitrakoot as a member of YOUTH PARLIAMENT. In the District Youth Parliament held on 25 January 2019, SURYA DEV SINGH secured the first position in the District Youth Parliament by surpassing the best 104 participants from all the colleges and universities of Banda and Chitrakoot district. SURYA DEV SINGH is the first person from constituency Banda Chitrakoot and this University to participate in National Youth Parliament.

History

On 23 August 1996, Swami Rambhadracharya established the Tulasi School for the Blind in Chitrakoot. After this, he decided to establish an institution of higher learning solely for disabled students. With this aim, he founded the Jagadguru Rambhadracharya Handicapped University on 27 September 2001 in Chitrakoot, Uttar Pradesh. The foundation stone was laid on 2 April 2001. The university was inaugurated by Rajnath Singh on 26 July 2011. The planned name was Chitrakoot Handicapped University, but later Jagadguru Rambhadracharya Handicapped University was chosen.
;Formation
The university was founded initially by the JRHU Ordinance, enacted by the governor of Uttar Pradesh on 7 August 2001. The ordinance was replaced by the JRHU Act passed on 5 October 2001. Classes began on 23 August 2001. In 2002, it was granted membership in the Association of Indian Universities, New Delhi.

Special features for the disabled

JRHU was designed to ensure greater accessibility for the disabled to higher education. Students are provided with a disabled-friendly campus and classrooms, at an affordable cost. Courses in basic Sanskrit and computer skills are mandatory. Courses are available in Braille for visually impaired students. Hostel facility meeting special needs of disabled students is provided, including those of the visually and hearing impaired. Hostel facility is provided in the university and Tulsi Peeth, a religious and social service institution established by Rambharacharya.

Logo

The logo of the university represents the four types of disability, along with the Sanskrit motto। सेवाधर्मः परमगहनः। and the photograph of the lifelong chancellor.

Courses

Jagadguru Rambhadracharya Handicapped University offers many degrees. B.A. and M.A. degrees are provided in Sanskrit, Hindi, English, Sociology, Music, Drawing & Painting, History, Culture & Archaeology. Other courses include MSW, B.Mus., BFA, B.Ed., M.Ed. Special, B.Ed., M.Ed. , BCA, BBA, PGDIT, DIT, Diploma in Photography & Video Shooting, Diploma in Handmade Paper, Law, BPO condensed course, BPO five-year integrated course and B.A. courses in Psychology.

Notable visitors

Many notable visitors have been to JRHU. Some of them are chief minister of Uttar Pradesh Akhilesh Yadav, former UP CM Rajnath Singh, member of Rajya Sabha Murli Manohar Joshi, chairman of UGC Arun Nigvekar, former union minister Uma Bharati, general secretary of AIU Dayanand Donagaokar, former chief justice of Allahabad High Court Hemant Laxman Gokhale, former vice chancellor of the University of Kashmir Abdul Wahid, sitting judge of the Supreme Court of India Markandey Katju, justice of the Supreme Court of India Dalveer Bhandari, justice of the Allahabad high court Singh and former major-general Ian Cardozo.

Support from other organizations

The creation of the university was highly supported by the Government of Uttar Pradesh. JRHU also receives support from UGC. The registrar, Avanish Chandra Mishra, said that they received help from Rehabilitation Council of India for courses in Information Technology, Teacher Training Programme, Fine Art, Music, etc. The university has been declared eligible to receive central assistance under section 12 of UGC Act 1956.

Other features

;Placement center
To assist its students in selecting appropriate courses/programmes and getting placements based on their performances, JRHU has a placement center. The centre also arranges capsule training programmes to help youth for proper rehabilitation.
;Distance education
To reach out to students with limited mobility, the university offers distance education programs online, recognised by the Distance Education Council, IGNOU, New Delhi. Like other programs at the university, these are available only for the disabled.
Name of coursesDuration
B.C.A.3 years
M.C.A.2 years
B.B.A.3 years
M.B.A.3 years
B.A.3 years
M.A.2 years
P.G.D.C.A.1 year
D.C.A.1 year
P.G.D.B.M.1 year

Notable alumni