Govt-run facilities most inaccessible to disabled : GURGAON

The United Nation's treaty on disability rights, which was ratified in 2007, deals with the question of accessibility by dedicating a whole clause to it. "The convention stresses that persons with disabilities should be able to live independently and participate fully in all aspects of life," the document says. This is an old issue and, sadly, still a very pertinent one in cities like Gurgaon, where development overtakes planning and persons with disability scarcely figure in the general scheme of things.

According to most accounts, while private and commercial sectors here have begun to shape up in the recent years in this regard, government-run institutions and facilities are yet to take into account the basic accessibility features - like ramps for wheelchairs - in their designs.

"At least the malls here have set an example by setting up ramps and accessible washrooms for differently abled persons. I wish the infrastructure built by the government could also follow the same model," said Geeta Chaturvedi, director of programming and research development at Vishwas, an educational and research organization working in the field of disability in Gurgaon.

Campaigners for disability rights here say the authorities are barely interested in furthering this model of development because it doesn't sit well with the profit-motive mindset of most. There aren't any monetary returns on specially constructed wheelchair ramps, for instance, and this is what constitutes a sort of mental block for policymakers.

Another reason for this regressive outlook has to do with a lack of awareness on many levels. Tripti Someshwar, who was been special educator in the past and is now working with the Genesis Foundation, said people need to be sensitized on disability issues. "When I was working in schools with special students in the class, sometimes I would have other parents objecting to it. We need to sensitize not just the children, but also adults about this. Only then will we see things changing," she said.

 

 

 

Source : TOI , 4th December 2013