397 crore in the first phase. Fifty percent seats in various courses are reserved for physically-challenged children. Of these, half the seats are reserved for visually challenged people, for whom Satish Misra had already been undertaking certain activities through his NGO.

During the current session of the university, six courses were introduced, including B.Ed. and two diploma level courses.

Separate departments related to four types of disabilities have been set up. Courses recognised by the Indian Rehabilitation Council would be conducted through these departments.

Emphasising that the state government was sensitive towards the welfare of physically-challenged people, the chief minister described the setting up of the university as a major step towards making them self-reliant.

She said, 'When I came to power for the first time in 1995, my government set up a separate Disabled Welfare Department, which was the first of its kind in the country. And during my second stint in 1997, I decided to give three percent reservation to physically-challenged persons in all government jobs. And when I became chief minister for the third time in 2002, my government set up an intermediate college for visually impaired students.'

She said now on coming to power for the fourth time in May 2007, she enhanced the monthly pension of disabled people from Rs.150 to Rs.300.