It is not just the public infrastructure that needs to be more disabled-friendly, even people have to change, according to differently-abled
persons and activists in the city. Real life experiences of
differently-abled persons here revealed that they face social stigma and
ridicule in their daily life, which upsets them more than the lack of
special facilities for them at public places. People with disabilities complain that they are often treated rudely by the general public.
Bus conductors and drivers, many say, are the worst-behaved. "There were many instances when the disabled have filed formal complaints with the transport corporation and the district collector," M Kamaraj of Thiramai said. He said that even the public travelling in government buses is not courteous to them and many people openly express the feeling that they are uncomfortable travelling with differently-abled persons. A cross section of people who TOI interacted with revealed that often the public refuses to even give the allotted seat to a disabled person. "If we ask them to give the seat that is allotted to us they show contempt," an orthopedically-challenged person said.
S Manuel working with Seesha, a movement working for the disabled at Thondamuthur, said drivers and conductors of the government buses and even people with disabilities (PWD) should be aware of rights, concessions and facilities offered by the state government to the latter. "Recently, we conducted a camp for drivers and conductors of government buses in the city. We found out that 90% of the transport staff is unaware about the rights and benefits that PWDs are entitled to," he said. According to him, training programmes for transport staff should be conducted regularly to sensitivise them.
Speaking further, Manuel said that even the differently-abled people need to be made aware of their rights. "Not just disabled persons but even the person who is accompanying them are allowed travel concession in government buses and trains," he said. Activists also appealed to the public to respect the disabled persons and give them a helping hand. "Public occupying the seat for the differently-abled should vacate the seat for disabled persons as most clashes commence here," activists say. On the other hand, since the transport staff themselves are unaware of the travel concessions offered to the disabled by the government, they ask the poor disabled persons to show the Government Order. "How can we show Government Order to them? Where will we get it?" asks Srinivasan, a differently-abled person in Coimbatore.
The public must realize that the differently-abled wants their rights to be respected, not sympathy.
Source : TOI , 6th March 2013
Bus conductors and drivers, many say, are the worst-behaved. "There were many instances when the disabled have filed formal complaints with the transport corporation and the district collector," M Kamaraj of Thiramai said. He said that even the public travelling in government buses is not courteous to them and many people openly express the feeling that they are uncomfortable travelling with differently-abled persons. A cross section of people who TOI interacted with revealed that often the public refuses to even give the allotted seat to a disabled person. "If we ask them to give the seat that is allotted to us they show contempt," an orthopedically-challenged person said.
S Manuel working with Seesha, a movement working for the disabled at Thondamuthur, said drivers and conductors of the government buses and even people with disabilities (PWD) should be aware of rights, concessions and facilities offered by the state government to the latter. "Recently, we conducted a camp for drivers and conductors of government buses in the city. We found out that 90% of the transport staff is unaware about the rights and benefits that PWDs are entitled to," he said. According to him, training programmes for transport staff should be conducted regularly to sensitivise them.
Speaking further, Manuel said that even the differently-abled people need to be made aware of their rights. "Not just disabled persons but even the person who is accompanying them are allowed travel concession in government buses and trains," he said. Activists also appealed to the public to respect the disabled persons and give them a helping hand. "Public occupying the seat for the differently-abled should vacate the seat for disabled persons as most clashes commence here," activists say. On the other hand, since the transport staff themselves are unaware of the travel concessions offered to the disabled by the government, they ask the poor disabled persons to show the Government Order. "How can we show Government Order to them? Where will we get it?" asks Srinivasan, a differently-abled person in Coimbatore.
The public must realize that the differently-abled wants their rights to be respected, not sympathy.
Source : TOI , 6th March 2013
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