Jadavpur University Introduces Tactile Walkway
Jadavpur University takes a step towards inclusivity with a 200-metre tactile paving for visually impaired students. While a commendable start, students and faculty hope for a fully accessible campus.
There’s a bit of a hullabaloo at Jadavpur University, and for once, it’s not over politics or an impromptu cultural fest. No, this time, it’s something rather more practical: a 200-metre stretch of tactile paving, marking the university’s first foray into becoming an inclusive campus.
For the uninitiated, tactile paving is a system of textured ground-surface indicators that helps visually impaired individuals navigate their surroundings without taking an unplanned detour into a pond or bumping into an overenthusiastic protest march.
A Small Step, But a Significant One
The work on this walkway began in March, and it stretches along three of the campus’s water bodies. Students entering through Gate No. 4 can now take this thoughtfully designed route along the driveway—a welcome addition, though some would argue it’s akin to offering a biscuit when a full English breakfast is needed.
While many visually challenged students have appreciated the effort, they’ve also pointed out the obvious—200 metres is but a drop in the ocean when considering the sprawling Jadavpur University campus. “We could create a 200-metre walkway with the funds provided by the State Bank of India under their corporate social responsibility scheme,” explained Bhaskar Gupta, who, until last week, was JU’s authorised vice-chancellor. One can only hope that future funding will allow for more than just a ‘taster menu’ of accessibility.
A Step Towards Inclusion
Professor Dipak Kesh, one of the brains behind the initiative, rightly emphasised that while the university undergoes aesthetic renovations, the needs of visually impaired students should not be overlooked. After all, what good is a picturesque campus if some students can’t safely navigate it?
Monjit Kumar Ram, of the Forum for Students with Disability (FSD), highlighted another pressing concern: speed-demon drivers hurtling across the campus as though auditioning for Formula One. “By laying the pathway for a certain distance, the Jadavpur University authorities have partly accepted our demands. It would be ideal if the university could lay the walkway all over the campus. Vehicles run at high speed here, which poses a challenge for students like us. If the entire stretch had this facility, it would address our concerns entirely,” said Ram, who is pursuing a PhD in Bengali.
A Braille Map to Boot
Interestingly, this isn’t the first time Jadavpur University has shown some forward thinking in accessibility. Last November, two students developed a Braille map of the campus to help visually impaired students locate buildings, pathways, and—presumably—the nearest canteen for a much-needed cup of tea. This map has been installed on the ground floor of the UG Arts building near Gate No. 4, which seems to be the university’s epicentre for accessibility.
What’s Next?
While the current walkway is a commendable start, one hopes that JU’s administrators will continue their efforts until the entire campus is accessible to all. Because, let’s be honest, stopping at 200 metres is a bit like installing a single escalator in a 50-storey building—helpful, but hardly the complete solution.
For now, it’s one small step for Jadavpur, but hopefully, a giant leap towards a truly inclusive campus.
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