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Tuesday 18 February 2014

A hurried disabilities Bill will serve no purpose

The Rights of Persons with Disabilities Bill was introduced in the Rajya Sabha to universal criticism and till now, 16 amendments have been circulated to members of the upper House in an effort to save the Bill. The objective of the legislation was stated as "a Bill to give effect to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities" (UNCRPD). Hence it must be in consonance with the requirements of the Convention to fulfill its primary purpose. The CRPD mandates an absolute prohibition on discrimination on grounds of disability, but this Bill permits discrimination provided it is to achieve any legitimate aim, in clear violation of the CRPD!



The CRPD prohibits deprivation of liberty on grounds of disability. The Bill cleverly inserts one word to change the guarantee altogether: it says that no person shall be deprived of his or her personal liberty only on grounds of disability. This formulation was rejected while drafting the CRPD since it permits the deprivation of liberty when a person with disability is destitute or considered to be 'dangerous'. For thousands, the addition of 'only' could mean being forced to live in institutions for the rest of their lives.



The other core CRPD principle that remains to be examined is the right to exercise legal capacity on an equal basis with others in all aspects of life. Presently scores of laws disqualify persons with disabilities from marrying, inheriting, voting, etc. The CRPD seeks to offset disqualifications imposed upon people with intellectual, psychosocial and developmental disabilities by recognising their right to live their lives according to their will and preference.



However, the 2014 Bill did not even mention the right to legal capacity. In the amendment, legal capacity has been recognised as an obligation of the government, not a right of persons with disabilities. If the government fails to ensure legal capacity, then the person with disabilities can do nothing but bemoan the poor implementation of Indian laws. Consequently, entitlement of reservations in jobs becomes meaningless for persons with disabilities. If it were possible to make things worse, section 110 of the legislation states categorically that the Bill will not override any existing laws, which means all discriminatory laws will continue to be valid!



However, despite the many flaws in the Bill, people with the newly-included disabilities are pressing for its enactment because these disabilities have been waiting for inclusion in the Act since 1999 and feel they cannot wait any more. This grievance is undeniably genuine. The correct way to address this concern would be to amend the Act of 1995, whether by Act or ordinance to include the long-excluded disabilities.



Let us not hurriedly enact a retrograde legislation for all disabilities, which would be impossible to amend for the next 25 years. In order to correct the injustice of exclusion, let us not create an equality of oppression.



(The author is professor and head, Centre for Disability Studies, Hyderabad)



Source : TOI , 18th Feb 2014

Committed to differently abled’s welfare, says Agriculture Minister S. Damodaran : Coimbatore


Agriculture Minister S. Damodaran giving a hearing aid to a differently abled girl at a function organised at the Coimbatore Collectorate on Friday. Collector Archana Patnaik (left) is also seen.

Agriculture Minister S. Damodaran giving a hearing aid to a differently abled girl at a function organised at the Coimbatore Collectorate on Friday. Collector Archana Patnaik (left) is also seen.

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State govt. had spent Rs.15 crore in Coimbatore district to benefit 12,792 persons 

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The State government was committed to the welfare of the differently abled, for it had spent Rs. 15 crore in Coimbatore district alone to benefit 12,792 persons, said Agriculture Minister S. Damodaran at a function organised on Friday at the Collectorate.

The Government paid Rs. 1,000 each to 3,078 differently persons in monthly maintenance charges, Rs. 19.80 lakh to 1,267 persons as education assistance Rs. 1.64 lakh to 63 persons as reading charges, Rs. 2.55 lakh to 83 persons as subsidy towards loan, Rs. 11.75 lakh to 36 persons as wedding assistance, Rs. 145.60 lakh to 163 persons as loan and much more.


Mr. Damodaran said that with the help of service organisations the Government also ran three early intervention centres in the district. And, to run the centres it had granted Rs. 10.98 lakh. It had given Rs. 1.50 crore through the constituency development fund to purchase aids and appliances for the differently abled.


He also listed out the various measures the State Government had taken for the differently abled persons’ welfare. The district administration had organised the function to give away modified two-wheelers to 188 orthopedically challenged persons. To purchase the vehicles, the Government had allocated Rs. 37.70 lakh.


He also said that the Chief Minister Jayalalithaa had increased the differently abled’s monthly assistance from Rs. 1,000 to Rs. 1,500 a month – an announcement she made in the 2014-15 budget speech.


A release from the district administration said that Collector Archana Patnaik, Mayor S.M. Velusamy and Members of Legislative Assembly were present. 



Source : The Hindu , 16th Feb 2014 

All India Invitational Badminton For Differently Able Persons organised at NTPC Talcher Kaniha : Odhisa

All India Invitational Badminton Tournament for differently able persons was organised at NTPC Talcher Kaniha from 13.02.2014 to 15.02.2014.This was for the first time such tournament was conducted by Sports council, NTPC Kaniha in association with Recreation Centre,NTPC Kaniha and Badminton Sports Association of India for challenged (BSAIC).

Odisha: All India Invitational Badminton For Differently Able Persons organised at NTPC Talcher Kaniha



This unique tournament was participated by 24 International and National repute players from the states of Odisha,West Bengal ,Bihar ,Jharkhand, ,Maharastra,Tamilnadu,Andhra Pradesh,Karnataka,Haryana , Uttarakhand & Union Territory Andaman & Nicobar.The special physically challenged players participated in the two days tournament in singles and doubles tournament in two special designed categories i.e Men’s Single (Standing Lower) & Men’s Doubles (Standing Upper).


Apart from two day tournament ,special badminton match was conducted on 16.02.2014.Speaking on the occasion ,V.B.Fadnavis ,Executive Director ,NTPCTalcher Kaniha said ”one  should get the inspiration in real life from the players playing in the tournament ,in spite of physical limitation  ,they have shown that they can win”.



The tournament was inaugurated by Chandan Chakraborty ,GM(Operatrions) whereas the winners of the tournament were felicitated by U K Dasgupta,GM(Maintenance) during the final day of the tournament.The tournament was also attended AGM(O&M/Civil) & President ,Recreation Centre,NTPC Kaniha.CPC Das ,AGM(C&M), NM Swain,AGMF&A) from NTPC along with representatives from BSAIC N M Satish Rao,President M R Patnaik,Ramesh Tikaram,Secretary(Arjun Awardee).The tournament was coordinated by Sudhir Pani ,Secretary , Sports Council & Ganesh Choudhury ,Secretary ,Recreation Centre,NTPC Kaniha.



Source : Odhisa Diary , 17th Feb 2014

Toilets for the Differently-abled Stink of Apathy : Bangalore

While the city is growing at an alarming pace and new people-friendly amenities are ensured at all public places, Bangalore is still not friendly to one set of its citizens - the disabled. Shopping centres, especially high-end malls as well as bus and railway stations are yet to provide proper amenities which are friendly to the disabled.


Toilets in malls and bus stations which are reserved for the handicapped are often ignored by authorities concerned | Sudhakar Jain

Toilets in malls and bus stations which are reserved for the handicapped are often ignored by authorities concerned


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City Express picked five malls and four bus stops from across the city for a quick spot check on whether they’ve followed the Central Public Works Department (CPWD), Ministry of Urban Affairs and Employment’s guidelines on architecture and planning of public spaces - with a focus on public toilets in these spaces. What we found was a huge gap between mandated guidelines and actual practice.



According to the guidelines, ‘one special Water Closet (WC) in a set of toilet shall be provided for the use of handicapped with essential provision of wash basin near the entrance. Suitable arrangement of vertical/horizontal handrail has to be provided in the toilet’.



The five malls taken into consideration were Forum (Koramangala), Garuda mall (Magrath road), Mantri mall (Malleshwaram), Swagath Garuda (Jayanagar) and 1 MG mall (Trinity Circle).


While Forum, one of the oldest malls in the city, did not have a separate washroom for the handicapped, they provide a wheelchair within the premises.  Swagath Garuda and Garuda mall (Magrath road) both had separate toilets for the differently-abled, but were shut and unavailable for use.


At Swagath Garuda, Byrasandra, 3rd Block East, a person who is physically challenged will have to locate the supervisor of the house-keeping staff to gain access to the otherwise locked toilet. “We open it even for old people upon request. It’s well maintained, but we prefer to lock it as when the gents and ladies toilets are full, someone might use this one. And as both men and women can use the toilet for the disabled, it might create a problem,” said one of the maintenance staff, implying that the arrangement could lead to incidents of sexual harassment.


While Mantri Mall had a clean, spacious and usable toilet, they had overlooked the need for hand rails. For most people, the idea of a toilet for the physically disabled just means a WC in a spacious room, large enough to fit a wheelchair. Hand rails, cleanliness, wash basins, even water availability is not accounted for, and more often than not, these toilets remain locked.


Of the five malls City Express visited, 1 MG mall was the only public space that provided a WC along with a wash basin as well as hand rails for support.



The four bus stops that went under the scanner were Majestic, Shivaji Nagar, Jayanagar 4th block, and Shanti Nagar (double road) bus stops.



While Majestic maintains a fairly clean separate toilet for the physically disabled, albeit without hand rails, at Shivaji Nagar we were greeted by a positively hostile caretaker who refused to open the locked toilet, citing that the place is ‘too unclean and does not even have a water connection yet’.

The Shanti Nagar (Double Road) bus stop had two separate toilets for the physically disabled, one for men and the other for women - while the women’s toilet was not in working condition, the men’s toilet was kept open for both men and women to use.


However, the toilet had neither a seat nor a back rest. And when we visited the bus stand in Jayanagar, the disabled-friendly toilet was occupied. However, upon enquiry, we found that one of the staff was using it to take bath.


“Wait for a while,” he said, “The bathroom will soon be vacant.”



While the washroom seems to be functional, those for whom it’s meant might not be able to make use of it.



Source : The New Indian Express , 18th Feb 2014

Suraj Singh bags junior Mr India title ; Imphal

Manipur’s young bodybuilder Ningthoujam Suraj Singh won the coveted Junior Mr India 2014 title in the 4th Junior/Master/Physically Challenged National Body Building Championship which ended at the Khuman Lampak Indoor Stadium here yesterday night.

Imphal-based Royal Gym bodybuilder Suraj become the champion of champions in the championship overcoming more than 200 bodybuilders from 23 units of the country. On the other hand, Karnataka’s Vinod Metri bagged the best poser title in the competition.


Assam’s Shyamal Debnath bagged 2nd position in 55kg category while M Robby Meitei managed to bag the 3rd position in the 75kg category.



Host team Manipur also clinched the best team title scoring a total of 54 points. West Bengal was adjudged the first runners-up team and collected 30 points. Andhra Pradesh received the 2nd runners-up team championship award with 17 points.


Manipur’s Sougrakpam Bungcha also received the most improved bodybuilder of the championship award. The two-day championship was organised by the All Manipur Gymnasium Welfare Association under the aegis of Indian Body Builders Federation. Manipur Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh was the chief guest in the closing function.



Source : The Assam Tribune , 17th Feb 2014

Building a city for physically challenged : Kochi

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Public space continues to be a nightmare for the disabled : 

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How difficult is it for a disabled person to navigate through the streets of Kochi ?

While the debate over the pros and cons of the latest version of Rights of Persons with Disabilities Bill continues all over the country, rules have not been of much help to the physically challenged in Kochi when it comes to access to public spaces. It is unimaginable for a physically challenged person to take public transport or approach a public office without help from a second person.


“The idea behind making public spaces disabled-friendly is that a disabled person should be able to navigate without any aid. Kochi is not disabled-friendly city,” says architect S. Gopakumar. “There are no ramps or easy access slopes to footpaths. In some foreign countries, buses lift wheelchairs into the vehicle. Road barriers or crossings should have special warning tiles on the ground for the convenience of the blind,” he says.


While all these measures are part of the construction code in some foreign countries, disabled persons in the city still have to depend on help. “I have to take an autorickshaw or a taxi to go to and from my workplace every day. The cost of living thus becomes high for a person with disability,” says Paresh, a city resident. Being a film journalist, Paresh also finds it difficult to go to most movie theatres in the city in his wheelchair.

Most public buildings and offices too remain out of bounds for the disabled. “It is difficult for us to approach even key buildings like courts and police stations. It seems that even the thought of making buildings accessible to all has not entered the mind of the authorities. There is a silent oppression of the physically challenged,” says Anita, a city resident who completed her bachelor’s degree under the Indira Gandhi National Open University. She visited some of the colleges in the city and found that while at least some of them had ramps, hardly any of the structures had lifts.


The National Building Code guidelines rule that all buildings should conform to design principles that accommodate the needs of the disabled. The code is not always followed while new buildings are designed. “Something needs to be done to make older buildings disabled-friendly too. Nothing has been done about older structures,” says Mr. Gopakumar.


Most courts, railway and bus stations, and government offices were built before the revised building code came into force. Until existing structures are redesigned and universal design made mandatory in new constructions, the disabled people will find it much harder to move around in Kochi.


It is unimaginable for a physically challenged person to take public transport or approach a public office without help from a second person.


Source : The Hindu , 17th Feb 2014

Want to know which malls, restaurants are disabled-friendly? Soon, an app will tell you



A file photo of a wheelchair-bound person using a disabled-friendly ramp

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Want to know if a restaurant, mall, cinema or a public promenade is friendly for the differently abled? Or whether the lifts in a public building can be used seamlessly by those confined to a wheelchair?
Help may soon be at hand with the state information technology (IT) department planning to develop an app and a linked website which will enable the physically challenged to record their feedback about whether facilities and public spaces are disabled friendly.


Rajesh Aggarwal, principal secretary, IT, told dna that they were working on developing an app to indicate disabled-friendly areas and facilities. "Users will be actually keying in the data," said Aggarwal, adding that this could even cover issues like whether a wheelchair could be accommodated in a cinema hall, mall, multiplex or a walkway.


This facility will also raise awareness about buildings and facilities which are disabled friendly and also compel those which are not suitable for the physically handicapped to re-engineer themselves accordingly to fit the requirements.

The IT department plans to launch the app on Android platforms to be accessed by smart phone users while a corresponding website will be developed for those who do not use smartphones. Aggarwal said they would also request Microsoft to help get the app on the Windows platform.


Welcoming the idea, HK Savla, managing trustee, Jeevan Jyot Cancer Relief and Care Trust, which works for cancer patients and the disabled, said this initiative would raise awareness about the need to make public spaces more disabled friendly. He pointed out that only a few buildings had ramps for the disabled or even toilets to meet their requirements. Savla also recalled an instance where a girl working in a post office was unable to take her wheelchair into the building or even to the toilet.


The department is also developing apps for MahaNews and Lokrajya and has come out with an app to enable users to view the government resolutions (GR) issued by the state government. While MahaNews is the state government's official news and information website, Lokrajya is the state government's official magazine and mouthpiece. The magazine will be available in Marathi, English and Urdu on the app.


Source : DNA , 17th Feb 2014

Call for cheaper assistive devices for the disabled : Chennai

ALIMCO provides assistive devices costing up to Rs. 6,000 free of cost to persons with disabilities under a scheme of Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment.

Governor K. Rosaiah presents lifetime achievement award to a faculty member at the conference of the Orthotics and Prosthetics Association of India. Photo: M. Srinath


Governor K. Rosaiah presents lifetime achievement award to a faculty member at the conference of the Orthotics and Prosthetics Association of India

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Professionals and researchers in the field of prosthetics and orthotics should develop alternative assistive devices for persons with disabilities that could be manufactured indigenously at affordable cost, said G. Narayana Rao, chairman and managing director, Artificial Limbs Manufacturing Corporation of India (ALIMCO), Kanpur.

At the valedictory of the 21 national conference of the Orthotics and Prosthetics Association of India on Sunday, he said that 70 per cent of persons with loco-motor disorders lived in rural India and could not afford assistive devices such as artificial limbs at high cost.


“There is an urgent need to develop indigenous products that everybody can afford. Unless we develop such devices, we will not be able to provide them to the needy,” he said.


ALIMCO provides assistive devices costing up to Rs. 6,000 free of cost to persons with disabilities under a scheme of Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, he said, insisting that doctors recommend needy patients so that they could get these devices.


Stressing the need for professionals in the area of rehabilitation to register themselves with Rehabilitation Council of India (RCI), its member secretary T.D. Dhariyal said it was against the law to practice without registration.


“This is to maintain standards to ensure that persons with disabilities get the right kind of service.”

Governor K. Rosaiah presented lifetime achievement awards to senior faculty members in the field. B. Madhouraj, organising chairman of the conference, also spoke.


Source : The Hindu , 17th Feb 2014

Time to enable the disabled

A Bill as politically non-contentious as the Rights of the Persons with Disabilities Bill, 2014, on which the aspirations of millions of people with disabilities are riding, is, shocking though this may sound, stuck between a rock and a hard place. On the one hand, it was recently introduced in the Rajya Sabha but disruptions over political issues like Telangana have ensured that the Bill, which seeks to increase the reservation quota for the disabled in public sector jobs and seats in higher educational institutions, was not taken up for discussion.



On the other hand, the disability rights activists seem to be divided over the proposed amendments as it is alleged that their recommendations have been ignored and it is a watered down version of their earlier demands. Moreover, it was a leaked copy of the Bill that made activists realise that the Bill to be tabled in the Rajya Sabha was not the same as the one available on the website of the ministry of social justice and empowerment, leading to protest rallies in Delhi. While the Bill, rightly, seeks to raise the number of disabilities from seven to 19, it includes only those who suffer not less than 40% of the relevant disability — this many activists feel is quite ambiguous especially in cases of intellectual disabilities and it does not ensure full legal capacity to people with disabilities.



In a country where of 70 million people with disabilities, only about 100,000 have succeeded in obtaining employment in industry, and inaccessible public infrastructure is a cause of their daily travails, this was a controversy the government could have done without had the authorities concerned kept all the stakeholders in the loop. However, practicality suggests that parliamentarians, cutting across the party lines, must now rise above politics and ensure that the Bill sees the light of day.





The Bill may be far from being perfect but given the fact that the ongoing Parliament session is the last one before the general elections, there’s no time to lose. There are several social and infrastructural barriers that need to be crossed to make the Bill effective on the ground. Instead of taking a one-step-forward-and-two-steps-back approach, the government must show urgency to build on what already exists.




Source : Hindustan Times , 16th Feb 2014
A Bill as politically non-contentious as the Rights of the Persons with Disabilities Bill, 2014, on which the aspirations of millions of people with disabilities are riding, is, shocking though this may sound, stuck between a rock and a hard place. On the one hand, it was recently introduced in the Rajya Sabha but disruptions over political issues like Telangana have ensured that the Bill, which seeks to increase the reservation quota for the disabled in public sector jobs and seats in higher educational institutions, was not taken up for discussion.
On the other hand, the disability rights activists seem to be divided over the proposed amendments as it is alleged that their recommendations have been ignored and it is a watered down version of their earlier demands. Moreover, it was a leaked copy of the Bill that made activists realise that the Bill to be tabled in the Rajya Sabha was not the same as the one available on the website of the ministry of social justice and empowerment, leading to protest rallies in Delhi. While the Bill, rightly, seeks to raise the number of disabilities from seven to 19, it includes only those who suffer not less than 40% of the relevant disability — this many activists feel is quite ambiguous especially in cases of intellectual disabilities and it does not ensure full legal capacity to people with disabilities.
In a country where of 70 million people with disabilities, only about 100,000 have succeeded in obtaining employment in industry, and inaccessible public infrastructure is a cause of their daily travails, this was a controversy the government could have done without had the authorities concerned kept all the stakeholders in the loop. However, practicality suggests that parliamentarians, cutting across the party lines, must now rise above politics and ensure that the Bill sees the light of day.
The Bill may be far from being perfect but given the fact that the ongoing Parliament session is the last one before the general elections, there’s no time to lose. There are several social and infrastructural barriers that need to be crossed to make the Bill effective on the ground. Instead of taking a one-step-forward-and-two-steps-back approach, the government must show urgency to build on what already exists.
- See more at: http://www.hindustantimes.com/comment/time-to-enable-the-disabled/article1-1184681.aspx#sthash.JYMZrg5N.dpuf

Government to formulate a national action plan for disabled people in Sri Lanka : Colombo

The government of Sri Lanka plans to formulate a national action plan for the disabled people in the country. 


Social Services Minister Felix Perera has recommended to the Cabinet of Ministers to formulate a national action plan for the disabled in the country and the Cabinet has granted approval.


Minister Perera noted that approximately Rs. 65 billion has been allocated in the Medium Term Budgetary Framework 2014-2016 to implement government policies on differently-abled communities.


The national action plan will also target the integration of differently-abled persons into society as equally important segments. 


Source : Colombo Page , 16th Feb 2014 

Kashmir’s Imran Khan in Deaf IPL

A physically challenged employee of the Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC) will be among the few players to represent Jammu and Kashmir in the upcoming Deaf Indian Premiere League.

The national level league is being played at Amritsar from February 24 to March 1. Imran Khan, a deaf and dumb, who works as a computer operator in the SMC's City Drainage Civil Division, has been granted permission by SMC commissioner Dr G N Qasba to participate in the league.

 
“I am participating as a player. I have been playing cricket since 2010 and follow the game passionately,” says Khan, who is also the general secretary of Jammu and Kashmir Cricket Association of Deaf. In his late twenties, Khan, a resident of Karfali Mohalla, Fateh Kadal, is also affiliated with All India Cricket Association, New Delhi.


On this rare feat and active participation in sports activities, SMC commissioner Dr Qasba not only granted him leave and permission but wished him success in his upcoming games. 


"This is a proud moment for the SMC to have its employees, despite all odds, not giving up and participating in games," said Dr Qasba.


He said such people should be a role model for all those facing challenges physically. "His dedication and commitment towards life and sports shows that a person should not allow any physical challenge to become a handicap in one's life," said Qasba.



Source : Kashmir Dispatch , 15th Feb 2014

Preference in transfers, postings for disabled govt employees

Preferences in transfers, postings and accommodation, reimbursement for assistive devices and special casual leave are some of the proposals being considered by the central government as it looks to introduce additional amenities for its disabled employees.


Besides, all ministries and departments, subordinate offices, public sector undertakings, government companies, cantonment boards etc. would also be identifying the types of jobs which may easily be performed by such employees.


The Ministry of Personnel has sent a proposal bearing these guidelines to all ministries and departments and sought their comments on the same.


"A need was felt to provide certain additional facilities or amenities to persons with disabilities to enable them to effectively discharge their duties.


"Identification of jobs, post-recruitment and pre- promotion training, assistive devices, free accessibility, preference in transfer or posting, special casual leave, etc. have been identified as areas which require special attention," it said.


Induction training is an essential component of the service requirement for an employee. Induction training for persons with disabilities should be done together with the other employees. Job-specific post-recruitment and pre- promotion training programmes are required to be organised for persons with disabilities, the guidelines stated.


"A person with disability shall be placed with an experienced employee for at least one month on resuming responsibility of a post.


"This would help him pick up the skills required to perform the job," it said. 
  


Source : TOI , 17th Feb 2014 

Friday 14 February 2014

Wheelchair woes for fliers at new terminal : Kolkata

Frequent flier Sreela Dasgupta’s excitement about sampling the facilities at Calcutta’s “new airport” vanished even before she had gone past the terminal’s grand glass facade.


Sreela was shocked to learn that a Rs 2,324-crore integrated terminal with Wi-fi mobility didn’t have a system in place to provide a wheelchair on demand.


“In the old terminal, passengers would ask for wheelchairs at the airline counters outside and one would arrive in 10 minutes,” she told Metro. “Here they ask you to wait at your designated gate. You wait for 30 minutes and go back to the wheelchair request kiosk, from where they send you back to the gate.”


That was a few months ago, and Sreela has since discovered that it wasn’t a one-off thing. The average waiting time for a wheelchair is 25 to 30 minutes, going by complaints lodged with various airlines.


The only way to speed up the process is by having a family member, fellow traveller or escort walk into the terminal to fetch a wheelchair or contact an airline official over phone.


The absence of helpdesks near the gates, which many airports have, is part of the problem. “Outbound passengers face more difficulty finding wheelchairs than those arriving,” an official of a private airline said.

The irony of it is that the Airports Authority of India charges a user development fee of Rs 450 from every passenger booked on a domestic flight from Calcutta and Rs 1,125 on each international ticket. The fee, levied since March 15, is meant to ensure a “fair return” on the investment made in the new terminal building.

The paying passenger, of course, doesn’t count.


At Delhi’s T3, passengers can dial any airline from designated telephones in front of the gates for wheelchairs and other assistance free of cost.


Mumbai has counters outside the terminals and personnel at the gates ready to assist.


Most fliers are taken aback when told that Calcutta airport has no such facility. Entrepreneur Anita Nankani was livid at being made to wait for a wheelchair for her 75-year-old mother Kamla.
“My mother, who was headed for Bangalore, has severe arthritis and damaged knees. She needs a wheelchair. It took us half an hour to get one,” Anita said.


Since there is no dedicated counter for wheelchair passengers, Anita approached personnel manning a ticket counter.


She was asked to proceed to a departure gate, where she and her mother waited and waited for the wheelchair to arrive.


“It was only after I screamed in protest that someone brought a wheelchair for my mother. At Bangalore airport, a wheelchair was kept for her at the designated gate,” she said.


Airlines blame poor planning by the airport authorities for the problem. It doesn’t help even if a passenger mentions the wheelchair requirement while booking the ticket.


“There are several gates here and you don’t know which one the passenger will take,” an airline official said.


The airport authorities have promised to arrange for intercom phones at every departure gate along with dedicated seats for passengers on wheelchairs.


Have you faced difficulty finding a wheelchair at the airport? Tell
ttmetro@abpmail.com 



Source : The Telegraph , 13th Feb 2014


The Disability Rights bill is a far cry from the rights-based legislation the community wants

In its present form, the Disability Rights bill is a far cry from the rights-based legislation the community wants. No wonder activists are riled.
Nearly 30 million people in India are grappling with one or other kind of disability. Given these huge numbers, one would have expected governments and policymakers to proactively address the concerns of the differently-abled people, if not to prioritise them. The ground reality however belies such optimism. For decades, advocacy groups have been raising the concerns of the differently-abled people — demanding the rights due to them as this country’s citizens. Time and again, petitions have been sent off to successive ministers and prime ministers of successive governments, demonstrations have been staged outside different ministries, hoping in vain to draw the attention of indifferent governments to the community’s concerns.

Recently, over 15,000 differently-abled people from across the country, gathered in the hub of Delhi, demanding the incorporation of crucial amendments in the Persons with Disabilities (Equal Opportunities, Protection of Rights and Full Participation) Act, 1995. The amendments are an attempt to bring India in line with the 21st century understanding of the rights of persons with disabilities as captured in the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD), ratified by India. Ironically, India was among the first countries to ratify the convention. That was seven years ago. Nothing since has materialised by way of aligning the bill with the UNCRPD.


The amended bill that the government has tabled in the Rajya Sabha is a diluted version of the legislation the Social Justice Ministry earlier put up on its website. The bill’s critics have accused the government of reneging on the amendments that were put together after years of nationwide consultations with advocacy groups. Activists working with differently-abled people maintain that the present legislation is not in sync with the several drafts that were widely deliberated during the pre-legislative process.

Based on the vital amendments, the bill, for the first time, would have been a rights-based legislation. Its focus on transforming the meaning of disability — expanding its definition from the existing medical framework to a social one. The amendments included hiking the quota of government jobs from three to five per cent and underlining the need to make private companies responsible for creating a friendly workplace environment for employees with disabilities.    


The present bill, however, reflects very little or nothing of the original ideas which shaped the amendments. If anything, the legislation now works against such an idea. In a newspaper column, authored by Amita Dhanda, head of Centre for Disability Studies in Hyderabad’s NALSAR University of Law, wrote: “A progressive, rights-based law has been transformed into an anachronistic, welfarist legislation...” For instance among other regressive provisions, by allowing plenary guardianship, the bill denies people with psychosocial disabilities the right to make their own life decisions.


For decades, the community of persons with disability has patiently awaited a rights-based legislation. But is this the bill they have aspired for? On the eve of the general elections barely a couple of months from now, the government wants to push through the Disability Rights Bill, regardless of its adverse implications for those it is meant to serve. For the community, it’s a tough call. They could reject the legislation that is so terribly out of sync with their aspirations and settle for a weak amended bill. It’s unlikely that the incorporation of a few progressive clauses would improve the quality of such an ill-drafted bill. 



Source : DNA , 14th Feb 2014

Assam govt launches schemes for 5 lakh disbabled in the state : Guwahati ( Assam )

To help the huge population of physically challenged people in the state, Assam government has taken up several schemes, a minister said here today.


The state government has taken up several schemes, including financial assistance to unemployed physically challenged youths and families with such a member, Social Welfare Minister Akan Bora said in reply to a question in the Assembly today.


The other schemes include scholarships for such students, one-time grant for rehabilitation of physically challenged individuals and also to the organisations working for their rehabilitation, Bora said, adding, that 15 NGOs have been engaged for the task.


Schools for visually challenged people were set up at Jorhat and Tinsukia, homes for aurally disabled were set up in Guwahati and Lakhimpur and training centres for blind were built at Nagaon, Bora said.


According to the 2001 Census, the state has an estimated number of 5,30,300 physically challenged people.



Source : Business Standard Via PTI , 12th Feb 2014

Body Building Championships : Imphal

In connection with the 4th Junior, Masters, Physically Challenged National Body Building Championship 2014 to be held under the auspices of Indian Body Builders Federation from 14th to 16th February, 2014 at Main Indoor Stadium, Khuman Lampak Sports Complex, All Manipur Gymnasium Welfare Association today conducted a trial selection of body builders for formation of Manipur team.


In the trial selection conducted under the strict supervision of the organizing committee, body builders namely Ningthoujam Johnbush of Health Studio Gym, L.Neta Singh of United Gym, K.Abdur Rahaman of Ai-Ummah, Khabeisoi; Th.Marjesh Singh of Pioneer Gym have been selected to compete in the 55 kg category.


.HSantosh Singh of Royal Gym, L.Lanchenba Singh of United Gym, Nara Singh of YPSM and R.K.Bijen Singh of Universal Gym were selected to compete in the 60 Kg category.


.HNaoba Singh of Royal Gym, Rajnesh Thapa of Eastern Iron Gym, M.Premjoy Singh of Subol Fitness, Oinam and L.Robert Singh of Royal Gym were selected to compete in the 65 kg category.

.ASusilkumar of KBB Gym, K.Bishorjit Singh of Super Gym, S.Anilkumar Singh of YPISM, Uripok and K.Malemnganba Singh of YPISM, Uripok were selected to compete in the 70 kg category while Sh.

Bungcha Singh of Super Gym, M.Dhaneshwor Singh of YPSM, Kh.

Ibotomba of Callisthenic Circuit and Y.Pibaremba Singh of Unique Gym for the 75 kg category.

Moreover, N.Suraj Singh of Royal Gym, W.Bimolchandra of Super Gym, Koijam Sachikanta of Pioneers Gym and A.Kishore of KBB gym have been selected for the 75 plus kg category.

For the masters, Suraj Thokchom of YPSM and K.Dineshchandra Singh YPSM were selected to compete in 40-50 years category; A Premchand of Super Gym, L.Kiran Singh of KBB Gym and D.Dougel of MPSC in 50-60 years category; L.Modhu Singh of X-Fitness, Ch.


Indira Singh of YPSC, Y.Nando Singh of KBB Gym in 60 years plus category while Md.


Idrish Khan of Al-Ummah, Joykumar Singh of AMGWA and P.Premkumar of Unique Gym in the Physically Challenged Category.


The championship will have cash prize amount of Rs.1 lakh for over all junior, Rs.50,000 for over all master, Rs.50,000 for over all physically challenged, Rs.20,000 for most improved of the year, Rs.10,000 for best poser, Rs.10,000 for team champion, Rs.5,000 for team runner's up, Rs.5,000 for best coach, etc. 


Source : E-Pao , 12th Feb 2014

MLA who led stir at minister’s house held, freed on bail : Mumbai

Independent Member of Legislative Assembly (MLA) Omprakash alias Bacchu Kadu was arrested by the Malabar Hill police on Thursday for allegedly trespassing on the official bungalow of Social Justice Minister Shivajirao Moghe earlier this month.

Kadu, the MLA from Achlapur in Amravati, had led a 36-hour-long sit-in protest at Moghe’s bungalow Muktagiri in Malabar Hill on February 3 this year, asking for a host of demands benefiting the physically challenged to be agreed to by the state government. The police said Kadu and a few hundred physically challenged individuals under the banner of the Prahar Sanghatana had gathered at Moghe’s home and refused to leave.


Some of the demands included an increase in pension and grants awarded to the able-bodied when they marry a physically challenged person.


“A law and order situation had developed on the day of the protest. But since most of the protesters were physically challenged, we could not take any action apart from removing them from the premises. On Thursday, we arrested Kadu,” said Inspector Sanjay Naik of the Malabar Hill police station.


Kadu has been booked for unlawful assembly, wrongful confinement, house-trespass and obstructing the police as well as under the Bombay Police Act. He was released on bail soon after, said the police. 


Source : Indian Express , 14th Feb 2014

NGO provides tricycles, wheel chairs to physically challenged : Ludhiana

A city-based non-government organisation (NGO) Bhagwan Mahavir Sewa Sansthan organised a camp for physically challenged at Ann Jal Seva Trust office in Lord Mahavir Civil Hospital on Wednesday.


Additional commissioner of police (ADCP)-1, Nilambari Jagdale, and municipal corporation additional commissioner Isha Kalia, were chief guests on the occasion.

Rakesh Jain, president of the Sansthan, said total eight persons were provided tricycles, wheel chairs and hearing aids. He said that since 2005, the organidation had provided services to 1,350 people as a part of their campaign to help physically-challenged people.


Nilambari Jagdale and Isha Kalia gave tricycles and wheel chairs to these people and they appreciated the work done by the organisation.



Ann Jal Sewa Sansthan, president, Shiv Ram Saroye said that the trust was providing free food to the patients at hospital and at night shelters established by the municipal corporation.



Source : Hindustan Times , 12th Feb 2014

Physically challenged woman allegedly gang-raped

A 24-year old physically challenged woman has been allegedly gang-raped in West Bengal's Hooghly district.
The woman was returning home from here to Bagdana when she was abducted by two of her neighbours Sheikh Nasir and Sheikh Kalam on February four. They later took her to a nearby isolated house and allegedly gangraped her, District Superintendent of Police Sunil Choudhury said.




As some persons raised alarm, the culprits managed to escape. The victim's father lodged an FIR in Dankuni police station subsequently on February 10, the SP said. The two along with a couple of persons were arrested later. A police team along with the accused today visited the spot for verification.



Source : DNA , 13th Feb 2014



Facilities for disabled at banks : Karachi

The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) has advised banks, DFIs, MFBs to provide facilities for special persons suffering from any disability by making bank branches and ATM cabins easily accessible to them.



According to a press release issued here on Thursday, SBP in a circular advised to provide preferential treatment or out-of-queue assistance to all special persons desirous to conduct banking transaction or want to avail other financial services from these institutions.


The SBP has also directed banks, DFIs, MFBs to make arrangements, wherever possible, to construct ramps at the entrance of existing branches and ATM cabins to allow easy access to special persons and wheelchair users.


Banks, DFIs, MFBs have further been directed to take maximum care for the possibility of constructing ramp while opening any new branch premises or installing an ATM cabin as a part of their network expansion plan.

The ATM cabins should be designed in such a manner that wheelchair users are facilitated to access the same.


Source : DAWN , 14th Feb 2014

Chinese film 'Blind Massage' arrives in Berlin

Young Chinese filmmaker Lou Ye has taken his latest work "Blind Massage" to the Berlin International Film Festival. The cast of blind and sighted actors arrived at the Festival on Monday.

Cast and director of Blind Massage at Berlin International Film Festival.

Cast and director of "Blind Massage" at Berlin International Film Festival.


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"Blind Massage" is an adaptation of a popular novel that's set largely in a massage center run by the blind. Bringing the movie to the big screen has had its fair share of challenges.


"In the process of filming we encountered many challenges, for example the basic difficulty of having blind people and sighted people act together and cooperate. It required a lot of preparation for them to be able to actually work together," director Lou Ye said.


The story not only depicts the relationships between a group of blind people, it also aims to portray an image of society itself. But the production team first had to understand the world of the blind.


"We actually went to a school for blind people and took introductory classes," Lou said.

The movie portrays a surprising turnabout, as people with normal vision are often the ones who don't understand and see many things.

Other Chinese directers such as Diao Yinan and Ning Hao are also in the 20-film race for the Berlin festival's Golden Bear award. So keep your eyes peeled for the final winner. 


Source : ECNS , 13th Feb 2014

Indian Blind Cricket Team to tour Pak for T20 and ODI Bilateral Series : New Delhi

“They never ask for the sight screen to be shifted. They do not need a sight screen. They can only hear the ball, the strokes and the excited shrieks and shouts of their teammates. The lighting in a day night game means little to them because the umpire is the only one who sees the game.


Indian Blind Cricket Team to tour Pak for T20 and ODI Bilateral Series


Cricket is an obsession in India and the blind are no exception. The 2012 World Cup Champions of the 1st ever T20 Blind Cricket tournament are embarking on another adventurous tour to test their grit and metal. On 13th February 2014 the team of 15 players cross the Wagha border on foot to play the traditional competitors Blind Cricket Team of Pakistan in 3 ODIs and 3 T20 matches. Detailed schedule of the matches is appended with this note.


In his inaugural address Shri Mahantesh G Kivadasannavar, General Secretary CABI and Founder Managing Trustee Samarthanam Trust for the Disabled acknowledged the support received from Government of India and other corporate and individual friends because of whose support Samarthanam CABI is able to continue promoting cricket for the blind in the country. He said that it is such support and encouragement which will take the sport a long way. It will also encourage BCCI to consider affiliating with CABI for which CAABI is still striving hard to achieve. 


Speaking on the occasion Shri Nagesh President of CABI briefed about the forthcoming tour and the schedules. He also mentioned about Australian Blind Cricket team’s visit to Bangalore India in the month of April for a friendly series between the 13th and 15th of the month. He spoke about the preparations taking place for the proposed World Cup to be held at South Africa at the end of this year and the Indian team’s readiness to continue the winning spree. He requested the GOI of India to consider giving Arjuna Award or any of the other special awards meant for sports persons in India to Blind Cricketers as well. He thanked Sports Authority of India for assuring a grant for organizing the tour to Pakistan.


Addressing the Press Conference, Shri Oscar Fernandes, Hon’ble Minister for Road Transport & Highways, Government of India and Chief Patron Cricket Association for the BIind in India, (CABI) congratulated the organizers and the team for enhancing country’s fame through the most popular sport in the country. He recalled the Indian Blind cricket team’s excellent performance during the T20 World Cup in December 2012 and their victory over the arch rivals team Pakistan. He wished the team all success in the forthcoming competition as well. Shri Oscar praised Samarthanam and the founders for their commendable work in promoting persons with visual impairments in achieving heights of success and assured his continued support through Government India for such commendable endeavors. His clear message to the team was to continue the winning spree and continue making the country proud.


Shri Ajeet Singh Patwa President National Association for the Blind spoke about their experience in promoting Blind cricket in the state of Haryana and working closely with CABI to extend their support at the National level. He assured of continued support to the body and wished the Indian team good luck and expressed confidence in their continued winning spree.


Speaking on the occasion Captain of Indian team expressed high level of confidence in the team and their fitness levels. He said the team is excited about the forthcoming series and looks forward to winning the same.


Speaking on the occasion one of the players Iqbal Mohammad Jafar explained the rigorous practice sessions they underwent since 4th February under the able guidance of the coach Mr. Patrick who concentrated on their fitness and readiness. The manager Mr. David has instilled lot of confidence among the players. He said the team spirit and coordination in the team is excellent. He requested the media to carry the story of Blind cricket across India which is the only way to ensure the sport receives its due recognition.


CABI is greatly indebted to Shri Oscar Fernandes and Rajiv Sardesai for their continued cooperation and encouragement.   


Organized by CABI and Samarthanam, the Press Conference also featured the members of the Blind cricket team who leave Delhi for Pakistan on February 13th. Between February 14th and 24th, the team will play their Pakistani counterparts in the Indo-Pak Bilateral Series of 3 T20 and 3 ODI international matches in Pakistan.  A detailed schedule is highlighted below:


Itinerary of Indian Blind Cricket Team Tour to Pakista

   Dates                        Purpose             Venue

13th February 2014    Arrival of Indian team

15th February  2014    1st T-20    Lahore Gymkhana Cricket Ground, Bagh-e-Jinnah Lahore

16th February  2014    2nd T-20    Bohran Wala Cricket Ground Faisalabad

17th February  2014    3rd T-20    Bohran Wala Cricket Ground Faisalabad

19th February  2014    1st ODI    Southend  Cricket Stadium, DHA Karachi

21st February  2014    2nd ODI    National Cricket Stadium, Karachi

23rd February  2014    3rd ODI    National Cricket Stadium, Karachi

24th February  2014    Departure of Indian team


Team List of Indian Blind Cricket team is as follows:

S No.    Name                                     Category    State

1.         Lachma Shekar Naik (Captain)    B3    Karnataka

2.         Pooniya Hanuman                        B3    Rajasthan

3.         Karuppu Ramesh                          B3    Tamilnadu

4.         Deepak                                          B3    Haryana

5.         Ganvit Ganeshbhai Rupabhai       B3    Gujarat

6.         Illuri Ajaykumar Reddy (VC)      B2    Andhra Pradesh

7.         Dunna Venkateswara Rao             B2    Andhra Pradesh

8.         Majhi Sukhram (Wicket Keeper   B2    Odisha

9.         Wagh Swapnil Di;ip                      B2    Maharastra

10.       Patel  Hiteshbhai Gamanbhai        B2    Gujarat

11.       Patel Ketanbhai Babubhai             B1    Gujarat

12.       Iqbal Mohammed Jafar                 B1    Odisha

13.       Bhoya Subhash Soniyabhai          B1    Gujarat

14.       Satbir Singh                                  B1    Haryana

15.       Mangadi Kuttan Anish                 B1    Kerala

16.       Endal John David                    Manager-Karnataka

17.       Joseph Patrick Rajkumar           Coach-Karnataka


Source : Odhisha Diary , 12th Feb 2014

Bid to appease disabled people : Kathmandu ( Nepal )

Nepali Congress CA member Minendra Rijal today urged differently-abled people not to launch hunger strikes yet.

He met the agitating party, on behalf of Prime Minister Sushil Koirala after they served the government a 10-day ultimatum to fulfil their demands before they launched a fast-unto-death, yesterday. “The prime minister is positive about the demands of differently-abled people. He urged them not to opt for fast-unto-death,” Rijal said.


After their frequent protests to draw the government’s attention to ensure their representation in the Constituent Assembly went in vain, seven differently-abled persons under the coordination of National Federation of the Disabled-Nepal have been staging a relay hunger strike near Bhadrakali temple for the last eight days.

They have demanded four seats, including two for females in the CA, when the Cabinet nominates 26 members.


They have threatened to go for fast-unto-death if their demands are not fulfilled within the given time.


Source : The Himalayan , 13th Feb 2014

Contempt Case on Officials over Data on Vacancies for Disabled : Madras

The Madras High Court has pulled up officials of the State government for failure to furnish data relating to backlog of vacancies for disabled persons in various government departments and initiated contempt proceedings against Chief Secretary Sheela Balakrishnan and two others.

There shall be reservation of 3% of all available vacancies for disabled persons, as per the statute. The High Court had passed necessary orders nearly two years ago. But, the issue gained momentum only after the apex court order last month directing all the State governments to set apart 3% of available vacancies for disabled persons.


Pointing out that at least 23 government departments had not furnished required details of backlog of vacancies despite several adjournments and directives, Justice S Manikumar said though repeatedly, this court had issued orders to identify the posts in ‘A’, ‘B’, ‘C’ and ‘D’ categories and consequently, to fill up the posts as expeditiously as possible, the process is on and on and from the materials produced before this court, of the 34 secretarial heads, 140 heads of departments, 102 government undertakings, including universities, and 54 companies owned and controlled by the Government, only 70 HoDs have furnished the details of ‘A’, ‘B’, ‘C’ and ‘D’ categories. So far, 50 out of 102 government undertakings and boards, etc., have furnished the details. No clear details have been furnished by about 54 companies owned and controlled by the government.


“This court is constrained to issue contempt notices to Sheela Balakrishnan, chief secretary, and also head of Monitoring Committee for Differently Abled, P Sivasankaran, secretary of Welfare of Differently Abled department, and Manivasan, commissioner for the differently abled, to explain as to why further course of action should not be taken under the Contempt of Courts Act,’’ the judge said and directed the Registry to issue statutory notices to the trio. 


Source : The New Indian Express , 12th Feb 2014

Dubai Municipality announces disabled-friendly service centres

Shaikh Hamdan’s initiative aims at transforming Dubai to a completely disabled-friendly city by 2020.


The Dubai Municipality has announced special services for its customers with disabilities, as part of supporting and promoting the initiative of Shaikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of the Dubai Executive Council, which is titled ‘My city is a place for all’, Dubai.


Shaikh Hamdan’s initiative aims at transforming Dubai to a completely disabled-friendly city by 2020.


The announcement by the civic body follows the approval of criteria for customer services to the disabled by its Director-General Hussain Nasser Lootah recently.


According to the new decision, which will be helpful for the customers having physical and visual disabilities, as well as those with hearing impairment, the Dubai Municipality will create an atmosphere that fits the disabled persons at its service centres.


For physically disabled, two trained staff members will be available at the municipality service centres to assist and support them.


Electronic doors compatible with the needs of physically-challenged persons at the entrance of the centres and special counters with low height will be provided in addition to the wheelchair service.


For those with hearing impairment, the civic body will provide two staff members trained in sign language. iPads will be provided to show the hearing-impaired customers, procedures related to service applications and important documents needed for that.


An alarm system including red lights to inform the customer in case of any untoward happening will also be available in civic body centres.


As part of the new decision, service catalogues will be provided in Braille language to support Dubai Municipality’s visually-challenged customers.


Audio tapes, sound alarm system and provision of two trained support staff members are other facilities the municipality is planning to implement at its service centres to help visually-challenged persons.


Special parking spaces will also be available for the disabled near all service centres of Dubai Municipality.



Source : Khaleej Times , 12th Feb 2014

India’s blind team to play Pakistan in bilateral series

A 15-member Indian blind cricketers team is going to to play Pakistan in three Twenty20 Internationals (T20I) and three One-Day Internationals (ODIs) from Saturday.

India © Getty Images (Representational Photo)

India’s blind cricket team is touring Pakistan for the third time © Getty Images (Representational Photo)

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“This is the third time the Indian blind team is going to Pakistan for the bilateral series and hope to register our first win as we lost in the previous two tournaments played in 2004 and 2011,” Cricket Association for the Blind in India (CABI) manager Endal John David told IANS from Amristar on Thursday. The team will cross through the Attari-Wagah border post.

 
India will play the three T20I ties in Lahore and Faisalabad and all the three ODIs in Karachi during its 10-day trip. India is the T20 World Cup  champion after beating Pakistan in final on December 13, 2012.

 
Organised by CABI in association with the Bangalore-based Samarthanam Trust for the disabled, the squad has players from nine states across the country — four from Gujarat, two each from Andhra Pradesh, Haryana and Odisha and one each from Karnataka, Kerala, Maharashtra, Rajasthan and Tamil Nadu.

 
The players are classified into three categories — totally blind (B1), partially blind (B2) and with partial vision (B3). The playing team comprises four B1, three B2 and four B3 members, while wicketkeeper belongs to the B3 category.


The lone player from Karnataka — Lachma Shekar Naik (B3) is the captain and Ajaykumar Reddy (B2) from Andhra Pradesh is vice-captain while Majhi Sukhram from Odisha is wicketkeeper.

“They never ask for the sight-screen to be shifted. In fact, they do not need a sight-screen. They can only hear the ball, strokes and excited shrieks and shouts of their teammates,” said coach Joseph Patrick Rajkumar.

 
Interestingly, lighting in a day-night game means little to the players of both teams as the umpire is the only one who sees the game.


“As cricket is an obsession in the subcontinent, the blind are no exception to the game, especially in the shorter version,” David asserted.


 
Besides the central and state governments, the team got support from the Sports Auhtority of India and corporates from across the country.


“We hope the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), which is the game’s richest body, will consider granting affiliation to our association as we are striving to promote the sport with other cricket-playing countries among the visually impaired,” said CABI president Nagesh.


“We are going to Pakistan as World champions with confidence high and sound fitness. We are looking forward to an exciting series and hope to win this time,” Naik observed.

 
The team members had a 10-day rigourous practice session in Bangalore since Feb 4 under the guidance of Patrick [coach] for the series.


Source : The Cricket Country , 13th Feb 2014

India declared polio-free : Kottayam


As the World Health Organization declared India "polio-free" Feb. 11, church health workers celebrated and reflected on the challenges they faced convincing parents to allow their children to get the vaccine.


                   Church workers rejoice, recall challenges as India declared polio-free


Catholic News Service photo
A child receives polio drops at a polio booth in the central Indian city of Bhopal in this 2008 file photo. Church workers said that, in some areas of India, it was difficult convincing mothers that administering polio drops would not make their children impotent.

A child receives polio drops at a polio booth in the central Indian city of Bhopal in this 2008 file photo. Church workers said that, in some areas of India, it was difficult convincing mothers that administering polio drops would not make their children impotent.




"It is a moment of great of joy for all the health workers," said Father Tomi Thomas, director-general of the Catholic Health Association of India, many of whose 3,400 Catholic health care centers were partners in the government's polio eradication program.



"At least 1 million children were reached through our centers annually," said the priest, a member of the Indian Missionary Society.



John Shumlansky, Catholic Relief Services' country representative in India, told Catholic News Service, "This is a big day for us."



Shumlansky attended national celebrations, led by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, at an indoor stadium in New Delhi Feb. 11. Though India -- a nation of 1.27 billion people -- recorded 741 cases of polio in 2009, no incident of the crippling disease had been reported since January 2011.



Summing up CRS involvement in India's fight against the disease that affected 200,000 annually in the 1980s, Shumlansky said his agency helped mobilize people to facilitate the government's polio immunization program and vaccinate more than 5 million children from 2008 to 2012. While the government provided the polio vaccine and oral drops to the church centers, the cost of mobilizing the teams was sponsored by CRS, the U.S. bishops' international relief and development agency.



"In 2013 alone, CRS reached nearly 585,000 people directly and indirectly to promote polio vaccinations," said Shumlansky. CRS, he added, operates through its local partners in several regions, including the northern state of Uttar Pradesh -- India's most populous state, the size of Brazil.



Under the mass immunization campaign, more than 2 million vaccinators would visit 200 million households across the country and immunize 170 million children under age 5 on designated days. Polio booths were set up to provide oral polio drops even at railway stations and in marketplaces.



"We faced a lot of resistance from the communities," said Deepti Pant, CRS' head of office in Uttar Pradesh state. "It was rooted in the misconception that it (administering polio drops) would make the child impotent. The mothers would ask our animators and others to leave (the house)."



"We had been chased out from the houses by women several times," Holy Cross Sister Consilia Pengadu confirmed to CNS.



"There was a widespread rumor among the people that if the polio drops were given, children will become impotent. That's why they kept us away," said Sister Pengadu, who works at the Bishop Conrad Memorial Hospital in rural Uttar Pradesh.



Only after taking into confidence the Muslim clerics and Hindu priests, "we could break the resistance of the people," said Sister Pengadu, whose center facilitated the immunization of more than 25,000 children in six years.



Pant said in one textile-making region, it was difficult to convince the illiterate weaver community of the need for immunizations.



"Our animators approached the power-loom owners and explained the dangers of polio. We pleaded with them to ask the weaver families to take their children for the polio immunization. We had roped in even grocery sellers and other traders to convince these weavers," she said.


Even after the much-publicized polio vaccination days, Pant said, teams of animators would visit each house and mark an X on the entrance of houses where the children had not been given the polio drops.



"It is certainly a campaign that has gone beyond polio vaccination. Besides vaccination, sanitation is equally important in preventing polio and other diseases," Pant said.



In villages, special meetings were organized for mothers to discuss hygiene. These awareness programs were held in schools, and the message of hygiene and sanitation was spread among the students. The elected village council members were also part of the awareness program.


While the polio eradication campaign has raised the health awareness among the poor, the Catholic Health Association of India head noted that "the challenges are too many."



"The threat of re-infection looms large. And we need to be vigilant. Keeping polio out is not the only part of what India has to achieve to secure the lives of all its newborn children," said Father Thomas. 



He quoted a recent UNICEF report, which said that 1.4 million children under the age of 5 died in India in 2012 from preventable diseases like pneumonia, diarrhea "not to speak of malnutrition, which is allied to poverty and ignorance."


Source : Catholic Sentinel , 14th Feb 2014