New Delhi : New wheelchairs, lifts and additional security will soon be provided at all regional centres of the Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) to help the differently-abled students.

"Many students with disabilities are seeking admission to various courses offered by IGNOU. At present there are a few thousands of students with different categories of disabilities," Vice Chancellor M. Aslam said Wednesday.

"These students need some special service and aids in order to realize independent forms of studying and living. New wheelchairs, lifts and additional security will soon be provided at all regional centres," he added.

IGNOU last week organized a two-day workshop to train staffers form all its 67 regional centres in how to assist and deal with physically-disabled students.

According to Aslam, the support staff should have adequate knowledge and information about the students with disabilities and the services available at IGNOU.

IGNOU, established in 1985, serves the educational aspirations of over four million students in India and 36 other countries. It offers about 490 certificate, diploma, degree and doctoral programmes.