SONEPUR:Disability has become a barrier for 13-year-old Jubraj Kumbhar of Babaupali village in Sardhapali gram panchayat under Sonepur Sadar block to pursue education.
Jubraj, who has only one leg, has been denied admission at Sardhapali Pallishree High School solely because of his disability.
After successfully clearing Class VIII examination from his village school, Jubraj applied for admission to Class IX in Sardhapali Pallishree High School along with his sister Anjali. However, his dreams of pursuing higher education and becoming self-reliant came crashing down after the school authorities rejected his application on the ground that he was physically handicapped.
Jubraj was barely a child when he lost his leg in a road accident. But his father Balram Kumbhar never let the disability hold his son back and encouraged Jubraj to live a normal life.
With constant support of his family, Jubraj successfully completed his primary and upper primary education despite being 80 per cent disabled. He is also a beneficiary of Banishree Scholarship scheme for children with special needs besides Handicap Pension of the State Government.
Balram said Jubraj and Anjali are twins and studied in the same class and school. After the siblings completed their Class VIII, Headmaster of Sardhapali Palllishree High School Laxmikanta Mishra asked him to get both his children enrolled in the high school.
However, when Balram reached the school with documents of both his children, the Headmaster agreed to admit Anjali but refused Jubraj on the ground that he was physically challenged. Though Balram assured the Headmaster that he would personally ferry his son to and from school, all his pleas fell on deaf ears.
Finding no other way, a helpless Balram, accompanied by his son, went to the office of the District Education Officer (DEO) at Sonepur on Wednesday only to find that the DEO was absent. However, the office staff advised him to get in writing from the Headmaster the ground on which Jubraj was denied admission. Since this was an uphill task, Blaram returned home frustrated.
Contacted, Headmaster Mishra refuted the allegations and claimed that he has not been approached by Jubraj or his family members for admission. Mishra further said if Jubraj gets permission from the competent authorities, he would admit the child.
District Social Welfare Officer Sunil Chandra Dash said nobody has the right to deny admission to Jubraj. He assured that stern action will be taken if evidence is provided to him.
Disability hurdle
● Jubraj has been denied admission at Sardhapali Pallishree High School solely because of his disability
● The 13-year-old boy lost his leg in a road accident
● He is also a beneficiary of Banishree Scholarship scheme and Handicap Pension of Govt