Bhubaneswar: He could ace academics but the system failed him.For Prateek Dash, a wheelchair-bound student who scored 76% in the Class X exams, admission to BJB Higher Secondary School should have been a moment of triumph. Instead, his family was forced to lift him and his wheelchair into the campus because the ramp for persons with disabilities lay overgrown with weeds, rendering it unusable.Prateek, residing in Old Town, who secured admission to the humanities stream at the institution, faced accessibility hurdles on his very first day on campus. The dilapidated ramp, covered with bushes and weeds, forced his father and uncle to physically carry him and his wheelchair up the stairs.Despite the ordeal, the teenager remained spirited. Suffering from Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD), a progressive genetic disorder that causes muscle degeneration and weakness, Prateek said securing admission to the state’s premier institution was a dream come true. “I am very happy to get admission here. Because of my illness, I could not attend school after Class V and studied classes VI to X from home. I love studying and want to pursue higher education. The admission officials were very supportive, and I will work hard to build my future,” he said.His father, Manas Ranjan Dash, who works in a retail outlet, said Prateek’s determination to continue his education despite his worsening condition inspired the family to overcome every obstacle. “My son is suffering from Duchenne muscular dystrophy and loves studying. As his condition is deteriorating, I am trying my best to give him every opportunity to pursue his education,” he said.Dash said he informed the school authorities about his son’s illness before admission. “Two days before admission, I met the principal and discussed my child’s condition. She told me the student would need to come to the school for admission formalities. I brought him to the campus and completed all the admission procedures. The in charge of admissions was very helpful and even came to our car to take Prateek’s thumb impression on the documents,” he said.However, the family’s joy soon turned into despair. “After admission, I wanted to show him the institution and the classrooms. So I brought him in a wheelchair with the help of my elder brother. But to our horror, we found the ramp covered with weeds and plants and completely unsuable. We had no option but to carry him up by the stairs,” Dash added.BJB Higher Secondary School principal Diptimayee Panda acknowledged the issue and said immediate steps would be taken. “The ramp would be cleared up on priority so that no one faces inconvenience. Besides, we will soon add another ramp to improve accessibility on the campus,” she said.
