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Saturday 21 September 2013

Lack of disabled-friendly buildings a worry in Cuttack : Bhubaneshwar

Urban development officials of Cuttack have failed to construct a green building for physically challenged persons. Though sufferings of persons with disabilities are increasing, political representatives and government officials have repeatedly turned a deaf ear to their woes.

According to guidelines of Central Public Works Department ( CPWD), after 1996, every public office should construct barrier free buildings with special facilities for use of persons with disabilities. 'Special Facilities' includes ramps, lift, hand railings and reserved parking space for differently-abled persons in all high-rise buildings.

Educational institutions, hostels, libraries, hospitals, hotels, marriage halls, cinema theatres, amusement parks, swimming pools, recreation centres, motion picture houses, auditoriums, museums, stadiums, banks and insurance companies are the most important places that need to PWD-friendly.

"It's surprising to see the city's most important building, the "collectorate", not having proper facilities for PWDs," a woman, who depends on other staff each time she has to enter or leave the district administration office, said requesting anonymity.

Sujata Pattanaik of Ashraya The shelter, an organization working for the rights of PWDs, said disabled persons are ignored to an extent that they are not able to join mainstream of society.

"Not a single school in the city can claim to be totally disabled-friendly," stated Biranchi Pani, a member of an organization working on child right protection.

"We are trying to enforce the facility for PWD in state buildings soon. We have asked the state works department to make a plan for the buildings," said I Srinivas, prinicipal secretary, housing and urban development department.

   




Source : Times of India , 21st September 2013 

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