Benefits for disabled, but some unhappy

The railway budget today proposed lifts and escalators at stations for the disabled and Braille signage on coaches. Minister Suresh Prabhu also provided "a facility for online booking of wheelchairs on payment basis" for the aged, ailing and physically challenged at select stations. This is aimed at offering relief from the challenge of hunting for wheelchairs at stations, not all of which are adequately stocked with them. A child looks through the window of a train in New Delhi on Thursday.  The budget speech did not clarify whether those who don't wish to book wheelchairs in advance against a payment will retain the option of trying to find one at the station and use it free of charge. Prabhu also announced that the "rail coach factory has been asked to explore the possibility of building wider entrances" for the benefit of wheelchair-bound passengers. Some disabled-rights activists, though, expressed disappointment with the announcements, saying they didn't go far enough. "Except for conceding one of the long-pending demands of having Braille signage on coaches, none of the other major issues... have been accepted," said the National Platform for the Rights of the Disabled (NPRD), a voluntary organisation. "Persons with visual impairment can reach the coaches independently only if there are tactile (Braille) markings to guide them (on the) bridges, stairs and platforms as also Braille signage on the entry/exit points and on the railing of the foot over-bridge." Rights activists were unhappy that Prabhu made no mention of ramps, which they said were unavailable at most railway stations, forcing the disabled to be lifted manually into the coaches. Some of them criticised the idea of charging money for booking wheelchairs, saying the option should be free. One of the activists' demands was to abolish the "special" coaches for the disabled, which they see as "exclusionary". Major Indian trains have a special coach - with ramps, space for wheelchairs and adjustable seats - that accommodates just eight disabled passengers and their escorts. "The coach (for the disabled) is totally disconnected from all other compartments," rues the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, India. "There should be a clear plan to design (all) coaches... so that disabled people can travel with dignity and comfort in whichever class or compartment they wish to, from say a general category bogey to a first (class) AC coach." In this context, Prabhu's suggestion of wider coach entrances earned qualified endorsement. "This is a good thing... (but) would be meaningful only if issues like the reduction of the gap (height) between the platform and the compartment, manoeuvring space inside the compartments and accessible toilets are also addressed," said S.K. Rungta, general secretary of the National Federation of the Blind. "There is no talk of universal design or provision of sign language interpreters at stations," he regretted. Prabhu's announcement of a wider private role in the railways stoked fears that the inapplicability of reservations to the private sector would hit the "already shrinking employment avenues for the disabled" in the railways. A sum of Rs 120 crore has been earmarked for making the railways disabled-friendly. This is 76 per cent higher than the final allotment in the current financial year. Source: The Telegraph, 26th Feb 2015

Farhan Saeed's skills continue to inspire

Farhan Saeed continues to inspire cricketers and sport fans around the world

Pakistani bowler a shining example of cricket truly being a sport for all people

Tales of triumph over adversity are a dime a dozen in contemporary sport, but the story of Pakistani Farhan Saeed brings all others into perspective.

A victim of polio as a two-year-old, Saeed has lived his life with a left leg that has been of little use to him; instead, he relies on a crutch for mobility, and incredibly, to perform the task for which he possesses a burning passion: bowling.

Like the legendary Shoaib Akhtar, the man who inspired him to pursue the craft originally, Saeed hurtles in from a long run, crutch propelling him along the way, and delivers the ball with all the menace he can muster.

And just like the deliveries of the Rawalpindi Express, Saeed’s offerings since his debut with Pakistan’s national physical disability team have turned heads in their own right.

“The first time Pakistan’s disabled cricket team played international series was in 2012 against England in the UAE,” said Mohammad Nizam, the side’s media manager and joint-secretary of PDCA.

“Many high-profile people of cricket, including the former ICC Chief Haroon Lorgat and the former PCB Chairman Zaka Ashraf, were present at the venue when Farhan Saeed delivered first ball.

“Everyone’s eyes became wet on seeing him bowl for the first time. If you see videos of his bowling action it is really unbelievable and it is rare to find such talent.”

Saeed himself says his miraculous bowling action – which once garnered him 5-22 in a five-over spell – was honed on the streets of Pakistan and prospered from the prayers of his parents.

“I haven’t learned it from anyone,” he told cricket.com.au. “I have done everything of my own.

“During the days of street cricket, my friends used to wonder how I would bowl like a proper bowler so they suggested me to do away with the run up and chuck the ball.

“But I was keen to bowl with a run up and over-arm action rather than doing the spot bowling so I kept trying it with overarm style and when I finally learned it many people, including some first-class cricketers, suggested me to continue with it.

“Most of the batsmen find it difficult to bat against me. They come to me after the match telling how confusing it was for them to play against me.

“It is all due my parents’ prayers and my passion for the game that I bowl so well.”

That passion was also fuelled by a meeting with none other than Shoaib – one that turned out somewhat differently to what both bowlers may have expected.

“I have met nearly all players of the Pakistan’s national cricket team,” Saeed smiled.

“Shoaib was quite impressed to see me bowling, so much so that after the meeting I read in a newspaper him saying, ‘I went to give tips to a bowler who was on crutches, but after seeing his control on line and length I myself learned many things from him and I urge other bowlers to learn from him’.”

Saeed believes he has developed considerably since being welcomed into the fold of the Pakistan Disabled Cricket Association (PDCA), an organisation that is gathering momentum thanks to recent financial support and media recognition.

“A lot of people get amazed when they see me playing,” he said. “They wonder at my confidence on bowling with the stick (crutch).

“They usually get concerned when they watch me running as they fear I will lose balance and fall over but I have never felt that way.

“When I used to play on the roads and streets, I was prone to losing balance and slipped many times.

“Now I have been part of the disabled team since 2007 and not even once I felt like losing balance or felt the stick getting slipped.

“The members of PDCA – President Saleem Karim, Secretary Amiruddin Ansari, joint-secretary Mohammad Nizam – have instilled lot of confidence and passion in me and made me believe that I can do things which sometimes a normal person can’t.

“I am very thankful to all the people at PDCA who have treated me like a family member.”

Nizam believes the future of disabled cricket on an international scale is promising, with other countries – including Australia – also looking to develop greater awareness.

“We are not paying these players at the moment but we bear all the expenses of their travelling, accommodation, clothes, sports gear etcetera when they come to play,” he said.

“In future we plan to introduce central contracts for them so they are paid regularly.

“But most of these players are settled. They have jobs at government or private sector. One of our players, Jahanzeb Tiwana, is a law graduate and about to become civil judge.

“This Cricket is getting popular day by day as, after England, now Afghanistan’s team has also stepped in and we have heard there is work going on in Australia as well.

“I hope when more teams get developed the International Cricket Council (ICC) will also play its role in this cricket. ICC’s role is necessary to make this sort of Cricket flourish.

“Moreover, media has played a major role in making this cricket popular all over the world. I must say the things we have achieved in seven, eight years could have been hard to achieve even in 15 years without media.”

With the current World Cup taking centre stage globally in the sport, there is only one thing Saeed would like to see more than a Pakistan victory – and that’s a World Cup for cricketers with a physical disability in which he and his teammates can represent their country.

“Yes, there should be a World Cup for disabled cricketers just like there is one among the national teams at international level,” he added.

“There is a World Cup for blind cricketers as well so we also want to play in a such a world tournament, it will be give us more chances to excel and represent our countries at international level.”

While Australia does not currently have an official Physical Disability Cricket Association like Pakistan’s, Cricket Australia continues to work hard to help promote cricket as a sport for all.

“Farhan’s story is incredible and he is a great ambassador for all abilities cricket. At an Australian level since launching the National All Abilities Strategy in November last year we are making significant progress in our efforts to be a sport for all. A practical example of this is the inaugural All Abilities Championships we are about to hold in March” said CA’s Senior Manager - Community Engagement, Sam Almaliki.

The 2015 All Abilities Championships consists of two divisions, the Inas International Cricket Series for cricketers with an intellectual disability played between Australia and England and the Blind Cricket national championships. Both divisions are being held in Melbourne between Tuesday 17th and 24th March.  

In addition to that, CA are also hosting a Blind Cricket and Deaf Cricket Exhibition match and a come and try day, targeted at kids with a disability on Monday March 16 at Fitzroy Doncaster Cricket Club

The Championships align with Cricket Australia’s All Abilities Cricket Strategy which aims to double participation of people with a disability by 2018.

The Inas International Cricket Series, which involves four 40-over games and two Twenty20 matches will provide the Australian team with the chance to win the division’s top prize against their traditional rivals.

Source: Cricket Asutralia, 27th Feb 2015 

UGC funds dry up, students with disability affected - Chennai

Sakthi Meena suffered permanent hearing loss following a corrective surgery to set right her jaw as a child. But she continued her education. At Dr. Ambedkar Government Arts College, a teacher not only identified her disability but also sent her for review to ENT specialists. She finally received a state-of-the-art hearing aid three years ago. She is now doing her M.Phil and teaches children in her slum to eke out a living.

“Sakthi Meena was the recipient of UGC’s fund under the Higher Education for Persons with Special Needs scheme,” says M. Ravichandran, coordinator of Disability Centre at the college.

“The surgeon had advised an expensive surgery but later suggested a high-end hearing aid. We used the UGC fund for it. She was the last beneficiary as the UGC has since suspended the programme,” he rues.

Source : The Hindu , 27th Feb 2015 

Big bag of goodies for passengers

Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu announced a lot of goodies for the common man such as better ticketing facilities, e-catering, an all India helpline number for any complaint related to the railways and ease of travel for the differently-abled and senior citizens.Nine more high-speed trains, faster existing trains, Wi-Fi in 400 stations, user-friendly ladders to mount upper berths, easier norms for unreserved tickets, 17,000 bio-toilets in trains, and cameras for safety of women travellers are among the other highlights of the budget.

Here are the top takeaways that passengers should cheer about:

E-catering is now a reality

This provides freedom to passengers to select their meals from an array of choices including local cuisine. Additionally, e-catering has been introduced in 108 trains on an experimental basis from January this year. Food can be ordered through the IRCTC website at the time of booking of tickets. IRCTC has already tied up with DOMINO'S on a trial basis which allows you to order a hot pizza that will be delivered to you at your seat.

SMS alerts on delays

Prabhu also proposed the introduction of an SMS alert service to inform passengers of updated arrival and departure times of trains at starting or destination stations. Similarly, SMS alerts will be sent 15-30 minutes in advance of arrival of trains at the destination.

Better and faster ticketing

You can now book your tickets four months in advance, as against a period of two months currently as the window for reserved ticket booking will be raised to 120 days versus the current 60 days. Even unreserved ticket purchase has been made simpler with smartphones and debit cards. Prabhu introduced 'Operation Five Minutes' to ensure that a passenger travelling unreserved can purchase a ticket within five minutes rather than fret over his unreserved seat.

“Provision of modified 'hotbuttons', coin vending machines and 'single destination teller' windows will drastically reduce the transaction time,” Prabhu announced. Also, Hand-held terminals will now be provided to Travelling Ticket Examiners (TTEs), which can be used for verification of passengers and downloading charts.

Helpline to complain 

An all-India 24X7 helpline number, 138, will become functional to attend to the problems of passengers on a real time basis. Passengers will be able to call up for complaints while on trains.

Another good initiative is the mobile application to redress Railway-related complaints. Railways intend to start this facility on a pilot project basis on Northern Railway from March 1, 2015.

Goodies for the elderly and differently-abled

While the budget is vague about ensuring women's safety, given that Prabhu only announced measures for increasing the number of surveillance cameras in coaches and women compartments, it does benefit the differently-abled and the elderly:

• Differently-abled travellers can purchase concessional etickets after one-time registration.
• All new coaches will be Braile-enabled to make travelling easier for the visually-challenged. 
• Prabhu has increased the quota for lower berths for the elderly while middle bay of coaches will now be reserved for senior citizens and women.
• Wheel chairs for the old, disabled and pregnant women can be booked online
• More lifts and escalators at major stations and concierge service at select stations were also proposed.

Better stations with WiFi and online booking for retiring rooms

The good news is that Wi-Fi, which till now was only being provided at all A1 and A category stations, is now being expanded to include B category stations too. So far, 1,052 stations have been identified for upgradation of passenger amenities at Station under Adarsh station scheme. 200 more stations will be brought under this scheme.

Online booking of retiring rooms has already been initiated. The facility of self-operated lockers would also gradually be made available at stations. Concierge services through the IRCTC at major stations for the assistance of passengers for their pick up and drop will soon become a reality.

Railways has also proposed the creation of a new department for keeping stations and trains clean. Integrated cleaning will be taken up as a specialized activity, which will include engaging professional agencies and also training staff in the latest cleaning practices i.e. this job will be outsourced.

Research, Design and Standards Organisation (RDSO) has also been tasked with making available airplane like vacuum toilets. Moreover, online booking of disposable bedrolls at select stations is being extended to all passengers through the IRCTC portal on a payment basis. Prabhu also proposed  expanding water vending machines to most railway stations to ensure availability of clean drinking water at very low cost to people.

Source: The Hans India , 27th Feb 2015 

7 Promises From The Previous Rail Budget That Didn't, Well, Go Very Far

In July last year, railways minister D.V. Sadananda Gowda had presented the rail budget after Narendra Modi's resounding win in the May general elections. Presented in an environment of high expectations, Gowda won praise for staying away from populism and focussing on passenger convenience. In a spirited budget speech, Gowda rolled out a slew of promises.

The Karnataka politician didn't last very long in the ministry, having been replaced in November by Prabhu.

As we study the new rail budget, here is a status report on the promises made in the previous rail budget.

1. Gowda had promised that the bulk of INVESTMENT would be through private-public partnerships and foreign investment, none of which has materialized because his suggestions did not mention specific measures that would attract companies such as Bombardier or General Electric to INVEST. Unless there is a clear path towards profits, private firms will be unwilling to invest. "There is nothing in this entire budget which tells you how they will make it attractive for private sector," Manish R. Sharma, executive director of capital projects and infrastructure at PwC India, had said at the time of the last budget.

2. Gowda had promised facilities for differently abled and elderly in major railways stations, including battery-powered cars on platforms. That remains a work in progress, with neither trains nor stations ready to accommodate them yet. Ramps for wheelchairs have not been constructed in stations such as New Delhi or Varanasi, where it is still very difficult for differently abled to navigate their way through crowded stations and long flights of stairs. “Those who are dependent on wheelchairs do not even think of commuting in trains. How can one go from one platform to another? If the government had fulfilled the earlier promises of installing lifts at major stations it would have made life much easier for them," activist Neenu Kewlani, a volunteer with Nina Foundation, told Afternoon Despatch and Courier.

3. The railway minister had also said that cleanliness and building more washroom facilities was a priority in railways, including suburban trains. He had said cleaning activities will be outsourced. No difference is discernible. Toilets in major stations remain unclean, while those in suburban stations still exist without any water supply or lighting. A recent expose revealed that kitchen staff at a railway station were using it as a toilet at times. Prabhu repeated some of the lines about clenliness being paramount, but offered no status update on what has been done since the last budget.

4. Gowda had also said that setting railways FINANCES right was a major priority. Today Suresh Prabhu mentioned that the railways don't even have enough to cover the cost of depreciation of existing equipment and machinery. The operating ratio of the Railways has improved, however.

5. Gowda had promised a bunch of amenities for passengers. Prabhu repeated much of it today. Some of the measures that were not implemented include computer workstations for passengers on trains, which Gowda had called 'Office On Wheels', and online booking of meals. While there was no mention on the Office on Wheels idea this time, Prabhu merely repeated the proposal that passengers will be able to choose their meals online.

6. Gowda had promised setting up food courts at major stations, and allow passengers to order regional cuisine in advance through smartphone apps and SMS, so that it would be served when the train reached the station. Prabhu repeated this promise again today in the budget. Gowda had also promised linkages with e-commerce companies, which would allow passengers to shop online or on mobile from a train and pick up the goods at a station. Nothing has since been heard about this initiative and Prabhu was silent on this as well.

7. Gowda's big bang announcement was a bullet train from Mumbai to Ahmedabad. Sure, a bullet train doesn't materialize in less than a year. But we got some guidance about how long it really might take. Even the feasibility study has only reached mid way. In other words, it will take several months more before the railways will find out if the proposal is even worth pursuing.

Perhaps it is not a bad thing that Prabhu kept his budget shorn of big promises. At least there will be no litany of unkept promises next year.

Source : Huffington Post , 26th Feb 2015 

Plethora of projects for work and leisure - Lucknow

1. INT'L CRICKET STADIUM | Rs 360 cr

Much to the delight of cricket lovers, Lucknow will soon host international-level matches like IPL, with the coming up of a top-class international cricket stadium with a capacity of 50,000 spectators. The multipurpose sports complex near Shaheed Path will also be the first-of-its-kind 'Sports Rehabilitation Centre' for players who get injured during matches.

2. JP INT'L CENTRE | Rs 200 cr

Again giving sports a boost, the JP International Center (JPIC) will house a modern and world-class modular convention centre and Olympic-sized swimming pool. It will also have an indoor sports complex, a restaurant and a guest house in addition to an auditorium and two seminar halls. For bibliophiles and art lovers, a library and a museum are also proposed. Visitors can also relax in a gymnasium or a health centre while children can spend time in a pool for them. There will also be provision for volleyball, basketball, badminton, table-tennis, squash, snooker and billiards, etc.

3. NEW HIGH COURT BUILDING | Rs 200 cr

Lawyers will get better facilities as a new high court building comes up spread over a sprawling 40-acre plot in posh Gomtinagar Extension. Lawyer would have proper chambers, while drivers will have a sitting room. The five-storey building would have a three-tier underground parking facility with a capacity for 5,000 four-wheelers and 15,000 two-wheelers. Visitors to the court can stay in a guest house. There will be a club house, canteen, dispensary, as well as an independent computerized railway reservation centre. To be made a high security zone, the entire building would be covered by close-circuit cameras.

4. WORLD LEVEL 8-CYCLE TRACK VELODROME | Rs 168 cr

Be ready to become a part of eco-friendly culture with the coming up of a world-level 8-cycle track velodrome. Cycling is pollution-free. It improves health and is also a less expensive mode of transportation. Officials said only motivation for people to resort to it was needed. Developed nations have included cycling tracks in their road engineering and experienced a jam-free traffic movement.

5. SHAKUNTALA MISHRA UNIV | Rs 87 cr

The university which houses 50% differently able students has plans to have a central library. Students will get a new academic block and auditorium while professors will get permanent residences on campus. Law students will have a separate floor where classes will be held peacefully.

6. DIGITISATION OF FILES OF ALLAHABAD HC | Rs 65 cr

The Allahabad high court including the Lucknow bench has a number of pending cases and a lot of space is needed for storage and maintenance of files. Hence, digitization of files is necessary so that cases are sorted quickly. More court rooms will be constructed and more lawyers would be appointed to hear pending cases. A total of 50 crore pages will be digitized.

7. NEW ANNEXE BUILDING | Rs 100 CR

The coming up of a new annexe building of secretariat will give more space and better infrastructure facilities to the government officials. It is coming up near Darulshafa.

Source: TOI, 25th Feb 2015 

Visionary technology tools that help the blind - Chandigarh

Technology has emerged as the new language to help the blind see. It's no longer necessary for a blind person to know Braille was the consensus that seemed to emerge among participants and organisers of a unique car rally in the city this weekend.

At the rally, visually-impaired people, who are forced to depend on others all their lives, were seen helping sighted drivers navigate city roads with the help of maps in Braille and other tools.

Some of the available tools were JAWS (Job Access With Speech), a screen reader providing speech and Braille output to visually-impaired computer users, which can be accessed by all. There was also DAISY (Digital Accessible Information System), a software player that renders text, audio and embedded images for the blind.

"Technology is breaking all barriers. The difference between those who read Braille and those who read the alphabet is blurring. Now both can communicate via e-mail, which serves as a common medium," said JS Jayara, the 50-year-old blind principal of the Institute of Blind, Sector 26, a city-based school providing free education to blind students from Class 1 to 12.

"When I was a student, people would read to me, which was very difficult to retain. I later learnt Braille," added Jayara. "Technological advancements were being made even then, but they were not affordable and accessible to everyone," he added.

"All senior secondary students have been provided with a DAISY player to make recording and memorising notes easier. Braille is used only when using the written format," said Urmil Sharma, a science teacher at the blind school.

"I know several blind people who do not know Braille but are doing well in life. It is no longer necessary for a blind person to know Braille, such has been the technological advancement over the last few years," she added. "A non-resident Indian will be donating iPads to all Class-12 students this year," she added.

There are also smart canes with sensors. "We have 'Smart Canes' with sensors these days to help the blind navigate effectively," said Poonam Tyagi, honorary secretary of National Association for the Blind's Meerut chapter.

Even as technology takes the centre stage, other issues in the blind's life remain.

Policy changes/government support

The implementation of Persons with Disabilities Act, 1995, was a major milestone in ensuring equal opportunities, protection of rights and inclusive participation of the disabled in the nation-building process, which was consolidated with the enactment of Right to Education Act in 2009, making free and compulsory education the right of every child.

"No school can deny admission to a disabled child today in India," said Sharma, who has been teaching blind children for 25 years now.

"When I had joined, no teacher used to stay for long because of the low salary. It was in 1992 that the school was sanctioned grant-in-aid. Since then, 95% of our salary is provided by the UT administration."

"The UT adviser is the president of the welfare society which runs the school. It helps in smooth administration, getting government approvals and ensures security," said Nath.

Career opportunities

"It is just the technical fields that are a no-go zone, rest all other avenues are open for them," said Sharma.

Tyagi agreed. "Sky is the limit for them. Barring a few professions including the Indian Police Service and driving, they are fit to do any work. They can even start their own ventures. Certain jobs such as teaching, even has reservations for them," she said.

Attitudinal shift required

"While people have become sensitive to the needs of the disabled in big cities, small towns still remain insensitive and indifferent," said Tyagi. "Though there has been tremendous improvement at the technological front, but people will take another 50 years to change their mindset. We do not need anyone's sympathy. We need to be empowered," said Jayara.

"One of my former students did her graduation, post-graduation, cleared NET, got married and does all her household work in spite of being blind. She is still not respected by her in-laws. They want to kick her out of the house," shared Sharma.

Unequally-distributed benefits

Students of the blind school in Chandigarh live in well-constructed and secure hostels, are given three nutritious meals a day, enjoy the services of a permanent medical supervisor and have transport facilities, "Everything changes if you go 50 kms away in any direction from a major city," said Tyagi, who has opened a centre at Meerut and also works in the villages so that "the available benefits are not just concentrated to select cities.""First we need to have electricity in villages. Only then can we make them use JAWS or DAISY," added Tyagi.

More needs to be done

A lot has changed over the years, but is not enough. "About 1.5 crore people cannot see in India," said Nath.

"We need to make books available in Braille in larger numbers, there is no policy yet urging publishers to also release their content in the form of audio books, and travelling is a major problem," pointed out Tyagi.

Source: Hindustan Times, 26th February 2015

Don't deny leave to disabled employees: Govt tells depts

 Leave applied on medical certificate in connection with disability of a government employee should not be refused or revoked, the Centre has said.

For a government servant who is unable to submit an application or medical certificate on account of disability, a family member is allowed to inform the office or submit required documents on his bealf, it said.

The Centre is in the process of notifying new rules to ensure equitable working atmosphere for persons with disabilities in government departments.

"Leave applied on medical certificate in connection with disability should not be refused or revoked without reference to a medical authority, whose advice shall be binding...

"Any leave debited for the period after a government servant is declared incapacitated shall be remitted back into his or her leave account," the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) said in an order.

As per rules, no employee can be terminated nor can he be reduced in rank in case the person has acquired a disability during his service. Even if such an employee is not suitable for the post he was holding, he could be shifted to some other post. However, his pay and service benefits would be protected, the rules said.

The rules also provides that if it is not possible to adjust such an employee against any post, he would be kept on a supernumerary post until a suitable post is available or he attains the age of superannuation, whichever is earlier.

Further, no promotion shall be denied to a person merely on ground of his disability.

"For a government servant who is unable to submit an application or medical certificate on account of disability, an application or medical certificate submitted by a family member may be accepted.

"The provisions relating to examination of disabled government servants and the medical authorities competent to issue such certificates are also being amended," the DoPT said.

Source : Zee News Via PTI , 26th February  2015 

Differently-abled meet Arvind Kejriwal

Differently-abled petitioners were given preference over the general crowd on the second day of Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal’s janta darbar at the Aam Aadmi Party’s Kaushambi office that lasted more than an hour on Thursday.

A three-tier security ring was thrown around the CM during the public interaction, which was attended by more than 500 people, including well-wishers who came with sweets and garlands.

“The CM wanted to meet the disabled first, so they were given preference, irrespective of their time of arrival,” Ghaziabad city magistrate Kapil Singh, who was supervising the event, said.

Complainants started trooping in as early as 8 am for the session that started at 10 am. Later, groups of 10 people, five men and five women, were allowed to meet the chief minister in batches.

Mr Kejriwal came out around 11.30 am and appealed to the gathering, who were still awaiting their turn, to submit their grievances to the officials.

“I am leaving from here, as I have to attend a very important meeting. But do not go from here until your concerns are submitted to the officers here because you have voted me to solve your problems,” he said.

Amit Chhabaria, a senior official from the chief minister’s office, said, “We are collecting the complaint letters which would be sent to respective authorities to take action accordingly.”

But a few people were disappointed with the arrangement. “We came here to put our grievances before Kejriwal only, but it is very sad that he left without hearing our complaint,” said Manoj Kushwaha, who came from Dwarka.

Meanwhile, party volunteers clarified that Mr Kejriwal would be holding meetings between 10 am to 11 am on each Wednesday, Thursday and Friday.

Visually-impaired 45-year-old Prem Kumar, who managed to meet the chief minister, said, “The CM expressed his inability to give me employment, but he assured me to do something for my accommodation requirements.”

Source: The Asian Age , 20th Feb 2015 

19-year-old assaulted by cops, probe starts - Panaji,Goa

Police on Thursday began an inquiry into the alleged harassment and assault by police personnel of 19-year-old John Augustine Fernandes of Gaurawaddo, Calangute.

John was allegedly beaten up at the Calangute police station after he was picked up by police personnel from his house on Sunday afternoon for his alleged involvement in a theft case at a guesthouse. A senior police officer told TOI that John will be called on Friday for his statement to be recorded and to identify the personnel who beat him up.

At Gauravaddo, John and his mother, Telma, have moved out of the family's small, single-room accommodation and are residing with relatives. Locals said Telma, who supported the family by working as a housemaid, is scared John will be further harmed and she will be harassed, especially after her appeal to the IGP to take action against the policemen who brutalized her son.

John's father, Alexandre, a differently-abled, is alone at the house since Wednesday and speaks to the constant stream of John's friends and well-wishers. He doesn't know where his wife and son are, and doesn't know why his child was beaten up by the police.

TOI spoke to John and Telma telephonically on Thursday. They requested that their current location not be revealed. Recalling what happened to him, John said that around 12.30pm on Sunday he stepped out of his house to go to church and from there to Margao to participate in the Carnival parade when Calangute police turned up and "started beating me without reason". "They then arrested me without any warrant and took me to Calangute police station," he said, adding that the police allegedly removed his shirt without his permission and started beating him again.

"The beating went on for around an hour; then they started asking me if I had robbed from a guesthouse at Calangute. I said no, I pleaded with them to stop, and I requested them to check if there was any CCTV footage available at the guesthouse." John claimed that when the personnel checked the CCTV footage they realized he was not in it.

He said that he managed to contact his mother, Telma, around 2pm, "through someone who had come to the police station". Telma told TOI that when she inquired with the police at the station about her son, she was told he had been arrested in a theft case, was not allowed to meet him, and was told to come back at 5pm.

Both told TOI that before John was released at 9pm, police took an undertaking from them that the matter is closed and the police have nothing to do with it. Telma then took her son to the Candolim health centre where he was referred to the Goa Medical College (GMC) and Hospital, Bambolim. She said when her son's treatment was under way when two police personnel from the Calangute police station arrived at GMC and the doctor later told her to take her son home.

"I want action taken against the guesthouse owner who named my son in the complaint, and the police personnel involved in the case," Telma stressed to TOI.

At Gaurawaddo, the taxi operators whose stand is at the entrance of the narrow lane that leads to John's house, swear that the lad is no thief. "He is a very good dancer and would take part in dance shows and competitions to earn some money to pay for his education. He is a simple boy, we know him since his childhood, we used to see him everyday," said a taxi driver. John, an open school student, is suppose to appear for Class XII exams in March.

Another taxi driver added, "He is such a simple boy that he would dance for us whenever we asked and we would give him just chocolates."

A taxi owner who took John to a private hospital on Wednesday, told TOI, "Police are saying that he is fit; I took him to hospital on Wednesday afternoon and he was not able to even move his hand. He was in terrible pain."

A friend who had come to meet John at Gaurawaddo on Thursday evening, said the youngster was part of the group, Born to Dance, and conducted dance classes for children. "He is a very simple boy and we cannot imagine him being involved in any crime. He must have been framed," said the friend.

The police inquiry is being conducted by North Goa SP Priyanka Kashyap and the report is likely to be handed over to IGP Sunil Garg for further action.

Source: TOI,20th Feb 2015 

One size fits all?

Despite being a hub for rehabilitation studies and services, Tiruchi still lags behind when it comes to providing a barrier-free environment for the differently-abled and elderly.

An elderly passenger catches his breath on the steps of a bus at the central bus stand in Tiruchi

For many residents of Tiruchi, nearly every public space seems to have a design protocol that covertly excludes senior citizens and the differently-abled from venturing out without fear of injury, or in extreme cases, fatal accidents.

This insensitivity, whether at a personal or policy level, is all the more ironic when one considers the city’s sterling reputation as a regional and state-level hub of rehabilitation studies and services.

A group of educators from the Research Department of Rehabilitation Science and Special Education, Holy Cross College, lists out the barriers that have made self-reliance in a public place almost impossible for the differently-abled in particular. “Disabled-friendly public toilets are a must,” says P. Nagalakshmi, Associate Professor. “The existing toilets, especially in schools and colleges, should be fitted with grab bars. Right now, they are forced to use the toilet by crawling on the wet floor. A low-level railing near the water closet will be of great help.”

Summing up the general attitude of the public when it comes to affirmative action, she says, “People think that sponsoring a free meal for the special needs kids is enough. But special schools should not accept these charitable donations, it takes away from their core purpose to encourage an inclusive society.”

A recent student project by the department found that government buildings in Tiruchi had more accessibility problems than privately-owned structures, when compared against a checklist provided by the Rehabilitation Council of India (RCI).

Among the many glaring examples of policy oversight that the educators listed are: the lack of even one public park with modified street furniture and playground equipment for differently-abled children, the uneven paving of sidewalks which makes it off-limits for wheelchair-use, and the absence of audio guides at traffic signals to help visually-impaired pedestrians safely across busy junctions in the city.

Nearly everyone interviewed for this article mentioned the apathy of transport staff to the plight of passengers hampered by age or disability.

Not special, but equal

“India is a signatory to the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD), which has many legislative provisions for creating a barrier-free environment,” says C. 

Shanthakumar, director, The Spastics Society of Tiruchirapalli. “It is wrong to even call them ‘special’, instead we should treat them as our equals,” he says.

The Society’s day-care and educational centre in Ramalinga Nagar has already put into practice, most of the recommendations of the Convention in its 15,000 square feet campus. Students on wheelchairs can pay their fees by approaching the specially lowered reception counter, which also has enough knee space.

A ramp, designed at the ratio of one foot of ramp to each inch of rise (1:12), runs right up to the third floor of the building. Unlike hospital ramps, which are commonly steeper and narrower, this walkway encourages children to exercise their limbs and also helps caregivers or users to push wheelchairs up and down with ease and safety.

“Due to the increase in the average life span, many people have a second innings in their late sixties,” says Shanthakumar.

“These days, senior citizens opt to work in the private sector after retirement. This section of the population has its own needs, which have to be catered to.”

Towards inclusion

For M. Prabhavathy, Assistant Professor and Head, Centre for Differently Abled Persons, Bharathidasan University, disability is simply an inability to function normally.

“These days we are getting geriatric problems like chronic knee pain at a younger age,” she says. “This is also an impairment, and not something confined to just a particular set of people. Only when the authorities treat it as a universal issue, will there be a change in policies and building design.”

For veteran resident Dr. Bapu Mathuram, who uses a walking stick regularly, the uneven roads pose a problem. “If there’s a small gap in the surface, the stick can get caught in it,” he says, adding that he rarely goes out unaccompanied these days because of he fears the danger of tripping. 

“Small changes, like a railing can help us to climb stairs easily,” he suggests. “Most people are quite courteous and helpful when you approach them, but in places like banks and government offices, a special lane to fast-track senior citizens and the differently-abled will be useful.”

***

Who cares?

The ground reality for many of the city’s differently-abled and senior citizens

1. Automated Teller Machines (ATMs) are invariably accessible only to those who can climb stairs without any support. Plush doors that tend to swing back hard, can be a safety hazard.

2. State and private buses with steep steps that are a challenge to every traveller, not just the differently-abled or the elderly. Insensitive staff shout at slow passengers, and also start the vehicle before everyone is safely on board and do not ensure that the seat reserved for the disabled by law is kept vacant for them.

3. Staircases without railings. Those that do have banisters/railings, are rendered unusable by silly ‘beautification’ ideas like having serial lights draped around the metal, or flower pots on each step which further impede access.

4. Swank new buildings that need a magic carpet to take the old and differently-abled to the entrance on the first floor, because though underground parking is available, there’s no lift from the basement.

5. Very few wheelchair-users are seen on the pavements, because these are already occupied by street hawkers and illegally parked vehicles.

***

Design checklist

Some of the user-friendly features of The Spastics Society of Tiruchirapalli building

1. International signage

2. Reception counter with knee space for wheelchair users

3. Double doors, with one bigger than the other, to accommodate walking aids; with push handles and a glass panel

4. A zero-obstruction corridor; all doors and windows open inward rather than outward to prevent injury to corridor users.

5. Ramp: Gradient not steeper than 12 inches.

6. Round handrails with continuous grip, extends out in landing area.

7. Short, rounded steps

8. Lift at a low height, on level with floor, with handrails and buttons with Braille lettering at a lower level

9. Toilets with grab bars

10. Wash basins with long handle levered-taps and knee space below the sink

Source : The Hindu , 20th Feb 2015