Ettumanoor: The MG University has become the first one in the state to introduce battery-driven buggies to transport physically-challenged students, employees and visitors on its campus in Kottayam.

Prathyasha Foundation director Simon George and Biju Varghese, a national-award winning innovator, flagged off the vehicle.

In an effort to make the campus friendly for the differently-abled, University Vice-chancellor Prof Sabu Thomas said the varsity has ramps in all departments and plans are afoot to install elevators, and put in place special rest rooms and disabled-friendly parking space.

He added that houses should also be designed to make them friendly for physically-challenged people.

Syndicate members Dr K Krishnadas, Dr P K Padmakumar, Dr A Jose and Dr R Prakash, Registrar M R Unni, Internal Quality Assurance Cell Director C T Aravind Kumar, School of Tourism Studies Director Dr Robinet Jacob and IUCDS Director Dr P T Baburaj spoke during the function.

A seminar on how to increase the quality of life of differently-abled people, and on manufacture of special vehicles for them was jointly conducted by Internal Quality Assurance Cell and Centre for Disability Studies on the occasion. The seminar was inaugurated by Prof Sabu Thomas.