Physically challenged assn protests, threatens to intensify stir - Bhatinda

Members of the Physically Handicapped Persons Association staged a protest against the government at Ambedkar Chowk here today.


They also threatened to intensify their agitation against the Punjab and Union governments if their demands were not met. The association is demanding employment for educated physically-handicapped persons. It has also accused the government of turning a blind eye towards the welfare of the physically handicapped.

Raising slogans against the state government, the members alleged that as the politicians made lofty promises  of ensuring free education and medical facilities to them to curb the problems of illiteracy and poverty, their fundamental rights were also being taken away. “Even after 64 years of gaining independence, politicians pay little attention to the rights and demands of the physically handicapped persons,” said Balwinder Singh, leader of the association.


The members also threatened that if the state government did not announce favourable policies as per their needs and not drafted according to their demands, they would be left with no option but to launch an agitation against the government. Adamant on their demands of opening 5,000 posts for the physically challenged, employment as per their ability and qualifications and an increase in pension amount up to Rs 3,000 per month of physically challenged persons, the union members vowed to make the public aware of how false promises were made to them during a panel meeting held with Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal on June 18.


They further stated that there were about 12 lakh physically challenged persons, out of whom 60 per cent have complete documents regarding their disability but the government had failed to increase the amount of their pension. Balwinder said the government had been spending crores on its advertisements but it had failed to increase the amount of our pension despite the fact that many of handicaped persons were living hand-to-mouth. “We are demanding that the education and health facilities should be provided free of cost to physically challenged and their children,” he added.

Source : Tribune News Service , 26th Oct 2016

Punjab Government Regularises 30,000 Contract Employees

Announcing a major Diwali bonanza, the Punjab government on Tuesday regularised the services of over 30,000 employees working on contract basis in various government departments and societies in the state.

The decision, which comes into force with immediate effect, was taken during the cabinet meeting chaired by the Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal this afternoon.

With elections barely a few months away, the decision is being seen as a last ditch effort by the Badal Government to win over protesting groups of such employees.

In another significant decision, the cabinet also decided to "adopt" all the employees who have been taken through private outsourcing agencies or contractors. These employees will no longer be on contract with the private contractors but would be shifted straightaway to a direct arrangement with the government.

The cabinet also directed the chief secretary to ensure that all the cases related to employment on compassionate grounds in all departments should be decided and disposed of on priority within a period of three weeks.

In another important decision, the cabinet further decided that the entire backlog of posts related to all reserved categories which included scheduled castes, backward classes, physically handicapped should be immediately filled up through a special recruitment drive.

In a major goodwill gesture and as an expression of honour and gratitude, the cabinet also formally approved the special grant-in-aid of Rs. 50 lakh to be given to the war widows or their legal heirs, of the valiant soldiers who had laid down their lives in the 1965 and 1971 India-Pak wars and 1962 India-China war.

The said policy had been announced way back in 1975 and over 1500 war-widows who had applied in time had been allotted up to 10 acres of rural agricultural land or cash equivalent in lieu of land at the rate notified from time to time. However, there were nearly 100 cases in which the applicants, for one reason or another, failed to apply within the stipulated cut-off date. Above 100 such cases had applied till the extended cut-off date January 4, 2010.



Source : ND TV , 26th Oct 2016

Pay Rs 5L compensation to woman who worked for AFMS: HC to MoD

The Bombay High Court has directed the Ministry of Defence (MoD) to pay compensation of Rs five lakh to a 62-year-old woman who used to work with the Armed Forces Medical Services (AFMS) for compulsorily retiring her after she approached court seeking upgrade of her post.

A division bench of justices V M Kanade and Revati Mohite Dere was hearing a petition filed by Sheila Rajan challenging the order passed by the Director General of the AFMS, MoD refusing to upgrade her post from Group C to Group B.

Rajan joined the AFMS of the MoD in 1971 as a speech therapist.

According to her petition, the then Colonel in-charge of administration made a recommendation for upgrade of her post.

However, this came to be rejected on the ground that the MoD cannot upgrade posts as it can be done only by the Pay Commission, it contended.

Rajan then approached the Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) but before her matter could be heard the Army passed an order of compulsory retirement against Rajan in April 1992.

Apart from this, the Army further reduced Rajan's two increments, said the petition.

"The facts disclose a very sorry state of affairs and we are pained to note that the respondents (Ministry of Defence), instead of issuing a letter of appreciation for the work done by the petitioner chose to punish her merely because she approached the court against inaction on the part of the respondents," the judges said.

The bench noted the petitioner was made to run from pillar to post and was penalised for approaching the court in an attempt to get justice.

"In this case the petitioner has been working for children of Army men who are physically handicapped and who have to be given speech therapy. Instead of considering her grievance in a sympathetic manner and giving a pat on the back of such a good working officer, the Army chose to humiliate and punish her in every conceivable manner," the court said.

The bench noted that while the MoD has committed contempt of court by not complying with orders it does not intend to take any action under the provisions of the Contempt of Courts Act.

"We express our extreme dissatisfaction over the conduct of the respondents in this particular case. We propose to award compensation to the petitioner and direct the respondents to pay a sum of Rs 5 lakh to the petitioner within eight weeks," the court directed.

The court, said the Pay Commission in 2006 has already upgraded the post of speech therapist from Grade C to Grade B and hence no order was required on this issue.

Source : Business Standard , 24th Oct 2016

A polio victim who has become a ray of hope- QUETTA ( PAK )

NAQEEBULLAH Ehsas at his office.

“Many people told me that I was a curse and burden for my family. Some even advised me to commit suicide,” says Naqeebullah Ehsas, a man hit by poliovirus in his childhood and still unable to walk.

Sharing the most traumatic yet game-changing experience of his life, he says, “I used to crawl away on a two-kilometre-long rugged road in a harsh mountainous area to go to and return from the primary school in my village.

“During that journey, once I was intercepted by two elderly men who beat me blue and black, furiously punched me and kicked me as if they wanted to kill me. Why, I don’t know.

“I was traumatised. But I turned my grief into my power and decided that I am not going to continue living this wretched life,” a confident Ehsas says.

He was born in a poor family in Churmayun village of Balochistan’s Pishin district. If not for his strength and endurance, he would have been dead or leading a miserable life.

But he is alive and strong. “I did my BA in Social Sciences and MA in Pashto literature. Will earn my Master of Philosophy (MPhil) degree in December after which I plan to go for PhD,” Ehsas said.

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Naqeebullah Ehsas who used to crawl to school now lives a successful life and wants other polio victims to follow suit

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He told Dawn that as anchor he hosts two programmes for Radio Pashtun and PTV, is a poet and a lecturer in a government college in Quetta. Most of all, he is working to uplift the lot of special people and give them the due place they deserve in society. He runs an NGO, Physically Handicapped Welfare Association.

Ehsas says he is inspired by a quote from Confucius: “It doesn’t matter how slowly you go so long as you do not stop.”

It relates to his life and encourages him to keep on struggling and achieving success after success.

But all these successes hadn’t come easy. He has gone through extreme adversity. The physical labour he had to endure to perform very simple routine tasks of everyday life, like walking.

But, above all, it is the social stigma he faced during his childhood which pains him most even now. “People’s misunderstanding and ill treatment hurt me more than the burden of being crippled.”

Like every media reporter, I am also an inquisitive self, but here I felt that I have been sort of knocked down by Ehsas.

I had no more questions to ask...

After a long pause of heavy and crushing silence, I made an uneasy move with the intention of taking leave from him. Ehsas read my mind and said smilingly, “Let me tell you a story that changed my life.

Then he narrated the episode of him being beaten by two old men when he was a small child.

“The enraged assailants took turns to thrash me, showered my legs with kicks and pounded on my back. Until, they were too tired. I thought I would die but survived by the grace of God,” he paused.

“This tragic incident changed my life and helped me to withstand miseries and inspired me to succeed in life.” He continued “Because I wanted to prove the old men were wrong”.

Ehsas completed his elementary education in his village confronting a lot of challenges. Then he shifted to Quetta where he enrolled in a high school in special education programme. During his high school period, he worked in a clinic to earn money for his living expenses and payment of school fee. Later he worked as a junior clerk at a government organisation.

“Like the pendulum, I am still simultaneously living in two different worlds,” he said.

“I am still haunted by the agonising memories of my past. The unbearable pain which marked the tender days of my childhood is still imprinted on my soul. The stain is impossible to remove. Though I have left that phase of my life far behind, and am now a happy person and a role model for others, a successful man, the irritation caused by my crutches transports me to my excruciating past.”

“I wish no one suffered what I had gone through.”

Ehsas sighed slightly and continued, “Whenever I read or hear that polio virus is still active in Quetta and some other parts of the country, I am shocked. I am afraid that more and more children are going to be affected by polio and destined to live a miserable life.”

“Not everyone is going to make it like me. We need to stop this virus to save our coming generation,” Ehsas insists.

“If we fail, the next generation would be laughing at us that we couldn’t fight with a tiny virus. We couldn’t eradicate polio due to our failure to educate unaware and gullible parents who buy conspiracy theories against the vaccine,” he said.

It was time to leave. I had no words to say to Ehsas, but told him that he is a blessed soul and God is happy with the successes he has achieved.

Let me conclude by his wonderful phrase. “People’s misunderstanding is more dangerous than the virus.”

Published in Dawn October 24th, 2016

Artificial limbs distributed

A free artificial limbs distribution camp was organised by Bharat Vikas Parishad Charitable Trust, Punjab, at Viklang Sahayata Kendra today. Artificial limbs, calipers, tricycles, wheel chairs and hearing aids were given to 12 physically handicapped persons. Meanwhile, a free polio corrective surgery camp was also held where eight patients were operated. The camp was sponsored by Anil Gupta, MD, Tech Auto Pvt. Ltd. 

Source : Tribune India , 24 Oct 2016 

Home buyers seek divine intervention for completion of Dwarka Expressway

Disappointed with government and authorities for their failure to complete Dwarka Expressway, one of the important infrastructure project of NCR, home buyers, who have booked flats in townships being developed across e-way now seeks divine intervention for completion of this jinxed project. To appease almighty and seek his intervention to complete the project, home buyers performed puja and Havan on Sunday on Dwaraka Expressway.
Around 90,000 people have invested in residential and commercial properties in more than 100 projects being developed along Northern Peripheral Road (NPR) also known as Dwarka Expressway, which was conceived and developed as alternate route between Delhi and Gurgaon. The road was expected to reduce traffic load of 40% on NH-8. Most of the real-estate project of Gurgaon planned on this expressway, which was promoted as new Gurgaon, but even after seven years NPR, now a national highway, is still incomplete ridden with litigation and obstacles.
"Left with no hope, now we seek divine help through this havan and puja, so that God helps us, protect our hard earned money invested in these properties and give us our home," said Gaurav Prakash , an executive member of DXP Welfare Association, a group of home buyers. He said more than 1000 families have got the possession of their flats in last few months but they are unable to move into their dream home due to non-completion of Dwarka Expressway.
More than hundred home buyers from different project assembled at end point of Dwarka Expressway in Gurgaon at sector 111 to perform puja and havan. Later they took out a rally on e-way to register their grievance over delay in completion of the road.



"My father who is physically handicapped had purchased a flat with all his life time savings in 2011 on Dwarka Expressway thinking of it to be a world class road with metro connectivity. But our dream has turned nightmare due to delay in completion of this road. I pay rent and EMI but we are not sure when this road will be completed," Prakhar Sahay, one of the home buyers.

Komal Ahuja, vice-president of DXP said after returning from USA in 2014 he booked a flat on e-way with a hope to live in an area with world class infrastructure. "Forget about world class infrastructure, we have not able to get basic infrastructure like road, water, sewerage, electricity connection," said Ahuja adding that home buyers are today in middle of nowhere, they have invested in property which have no connectivity with mainland.


There were home buyers, who have got possession of their flats but not able to shift into their houses in lack of connectivity and basic civic infrastructure. "I got possession of my flat, which I had purchased after paying several crores, few months back, but still I am staying in rented flat in Dwarka as there is no connectivity due to incomplete Dwarka Expressway," said Manish Grover.

Finding it hard to pay EMI and rent, some of the people who got possession shifted to their house, but in absence of basic civic amenities, they have to face problems on daily basis. "We shifted to our house few weeks back, but living in this area which has no connection with mainland is very difficult. There is no connectivity, proper water and electricity, no shops ... nothing. It is like living in an isolated island," said Major (rtd) RK Rao.





Source : TOI , 23rd Oct 2016

PH Candidates write to CM for justice in job appointment

Affirming that they are repeatedly neglected by the state governments over last two years in appointment for government jobs, the physically handicapped (PH) candidates have written to the Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan seeking his intervention to ensure justice. In a letter to the CM, the PH candidates indicate that it is sad that their appointment based on PH job reservation rules has been neglected by Kerala government over the years despite the apex court and high court ruling in their favour.

"Even after a representation is made and despite that the file is doing the rounds since a long time (File: 6464/SJD/2015) we have not been able to find justice," said a PH candidate K Madhu from Thrissur, a post graduate from IIT Kharagpur. He has made it to the KPSC Rank list for Deputy Collector Post in land revenue department two years back and is yet to be posted.

No different is the plight of other PH candidates whose names had figured in the rank list and are yet to be posted. The PH candidates Sugatha Kumar, a hearing impaired, Praveen A, an orthopedically handicapped and Sananda Singh a low vision candidate are yet to be considered by the state for the post of municipal secretary, though the courts had ruled in their favour.


Supreme Court directive which means that the first vacancy should be reserved for the disabled, then the 34th and 67th. It also seeks to implement the Persons with Disabilities (PWD) Act from 1996 onwards and fill the PH backlog vacancies from existing KPSC rank list.

Now, the file on PH appointment is with Social Justice Department (SJD), yet a decision on implementing that can be taken only by the state government by issuing an order. When contacted, SJD secretary A Shahjahan told TOI that a joint meeting of the secretaries from the concerned departments will be held on Monday. "A decision on the appointment of the disabled based on the Supreme Court directive can be expected soon after the joint meeting," he said.





Source : TOI , 22nd Oct 2016

Sri Lanka to put in place facilities for physically challenged tourists

Sri Lanka’s Tourism Ministry on Friday said it would put in place all basic facilities for physically challenged people to visit the island nation.

Sri Lanka’s Tourism Minister, John Amaratunga said in a statement that with this year’s theme being: `Tourism for all promoting universal accessibility,’ it was the right time for the government to plan ahead.

Amaratunga, however, said that planning ahead will make Sri Lanka a success story in providing accessibility to all in this part of the world.

“It is of greater relevance to us here in Sri Lanka as we are now on the cusp of rapid growth in both tourism infrastructure development and hotel inventory.

“We need to start by facilitating our own physically challenged people who are eager to explore their motherland, but hesitate to do so due to inadequate facilities,’’ he stressed.

Amaratunga emphasised that Sri Lanka was obligated to put in place the basic facilities needed to ensure both the safety and comfort of physically challenged people.

Source : Sundiata Post , 30th Sep 2016 

Photo identity cards for differently abled persons - SALEM

To facilitate buying concession tickets easy for the differently abled persons and to prevent misuse of the facility, Railway administration is issuing photo ID cards for them all over the Indian Railways.

In Salem Railway Division, so far 5,326 applications were received for issue of photo ID cards for the differently abled persons, at Coimbatore, Salem, Erode, Tiruppur and Karur railway stations.

Of these, 5,173 have already collected the ID cards from the places where they submitted the applications. A total of 189 applicants are yet to receive the identity cards.

Since the doctor’s certification has to be verified before handing over the ID cards, the remaining 189 beneficiaries can approach the appropriate authorities in the centres where they submitted their applications on or before October 5 to receive their ID cards in person. They may also contact mobile No. 98409 16964 for any assistance in this regard, an official press release of the Salem Railway Division issued here on Friday said.

Source : The Hindu , 1st Oct 2016 

Suspension order of town panchayat employees set aside - MADURAI

The Madras High Court Bench here has set aside an order passed by Ayakudi town panchayat in Tirunelveli district on April 1 last suspending from service two healthy individuals who were appointed to the post of hand pump operator way back in 2001 under the quota for the physically challenged.

Allowing individual writ appeals preferred by S. Periyasamy and Jesu Antony by way of a common order, a Division Bench of Justices M. Sathyanarayanan and V.M. Velumani, however, gave liberty to the Executive Officer of the town panchayat to expedite departmental enquiry initiated against them and pass final orders as soon as possible.

The judges agreed with the petitioners’ counsel that suspension of government employees, pending enquiry into allegations of fraudulent recruitment, could be resorted to only if there were chances of tampering of records or other such evidence. In the present case, no such thing could be done by the petitioners occupying a lower level post.

The Division Bench also said documents produced by the petitioners, prima facie, disclosed that they were not suffering from any disability and had registered their names with Employment Exchange only under the General Category. They were also subjected to medical examination at the time of recruitment on consolidated pay in 2001.

The medical examination report also disclosed that they were not physically challenged. Yet, they had been appointed under the quota and their services were regularised in 2006. It was only after the filing of a public interest litigation petition in the High Court last year alleging misuse of quota meant for the physically challenged, the town panchayat initiated action.

“It is pertinent to point out at this juncture that the appellants are under employment for nearly 14 years and all of a sudden they are placed under suspension,” the Division Bench said after overruling a single judge’s refusal to entertain their writ petitions on the ground that the culpability of the petitioners could be found only after conclusion of departmental enquiry.



Source : The Hindu , 1st October 2016

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50 cops detained for boarding bogies reserved for handicapped - Mumbai

In a special drive, the Railway Protection Force (RPF) caught over 50 cops travelling in handicapped compartments. This drive was conducted after several warnings to the cops from the Inspector General of the RPF to not travel in handicapped compartments fell on deaf ears. The drive focussed on major stations such as Kalyan, Ambernath, Badlapur, Dombivali, Thane and Kurla.


A team from the Railway Protection Force (RPF) checked each of the handicapped compartments, detained cops found in the coaches and took down their identification numbers. The RPF now intends to write to their superiors. Central Railway officials said that when able bodied persons travel in coaches reserved for the physically handicapped, it causes all sorts of concerns and often results in the chain being pulled, which is one of the main causes of trains getting delayed. Officials said each time the train's chain is pulled, it gets delayed for two to five minutes.


Nitin Gaikward, who is physically-challenged and travels from Ghatkopar to CST, called this exercise an eye wash. Gaikward said, "After filing several petitions the RPF did not fine these cops. They were simply detained. It is very troublesome for handicapped commuters as the entire coach is occupied by these people."


Senior Divisional Security Commissioner for RPF on Central Railway Sachin Bhalode said, "This is a part of an on-going drive which we conducting to curb the problem. We will also write to their superiors and departmental heads to highlight the problem." 

Source : TOI , 1st Oct 2016

Accessibility must be a special need for us all

A week before the terrible massacre in Paris earlier this year, my best friend went with her husband and young daughter on a trip to the City of Light they had promised themselves a long time ago. That he was now wheelchair bound did not impede their plans a whit.

From taking his battery-operated chair on board the Air France flight to the special cab that took them around Paris to their hotel room and bathroom, everything was kitted out for those with special needs. Parisians are not known to be particularly friendly to “outsiders”, including people from their own country. But amazingly, they pulled out all the stops for this doughty couple, helping them at every point. Privileged entry to museums and other public buildings was a given; even restaurants and washrooms were equipped to deal with wheelchairs.

Nary an inconvenient step or two impeded their access anywhere. They came back glowing with goodwill for Paris. When it comes to planning anything within our own vast and wondrous country, however, they are not that confident. Things are far from being truly “accessible” here. They are in the process of painstakingly finding out from domestic air carriers whether battery-operated wheelchairs are allowed on board and whether hotel rooms in India have rooms with high beds and manoeuvrable bathrooms that all international chains abroad now provide as a matter of course. For those with any sort of physical challenge, tourism within India is not easy.

Travel operators do specialize in organizing trips for them but options are not exhaustive. Transport for those incapacitated in some way is not guaranteed; tourist spots, whether architectural or natural do not necessarily ensure accessibility to all areas. While ramps are willingly provided as a nod to making premises “accessible”, more often than not, they are too steep and do not cover the entire property. India is leapfrogging on many indices, so it is not too much to expect that the tourism sector would gear up to welcome travellers with special needs. Indeed, one of the most subtle yet telling marker of a developed society is the attention it pays to special needs.

India fares poorly on this. Our pavements are too high or uneven, most buses and trains ignore those with mobility issues, buildings have stairs and steps in inconvenient places and our administrators generally do not care. Around 2.7 crore Indians have special needs– more than the population of Australia, actually. And while it’s been “mandatory” since 2009 for hotels to ensure accessibility and special rooms in line with best practices abroad, even most tourist destinations lack such facilities. In India, only one in 250 hotel rooms provide such features, as compared to the international ratio of 1:50. And the revised Rights of Persons with Disabilities Bill, 2014 is yet to be passed.

The Taj Mahal, Fatehpur Sikri and Sanchi Stupa confidently assert their accessibility. Kerala Tourism (usually an industry leader) is tomtomming Fort Kochi as its first accessible tourist spot while Karnataka government ambitiously announced on World Tourism Day earlier this week that 20 heritage destinations will be made “disabled-friendly”–by installing ramps and audio panels!–taking a cue from Tipu Sultan’s summer palace in Bengaluru, upgraded by ASI. The ASI has picked 50 monuments under its Adarsh Smarak Yojana to implement the “Accessible India” (Sugamya Bharat) campaign, including Ajanta and Ellora, Red Fort, the Qutab Minar complex, Ranthambore Fort, Konark’s Sun Temple and Hampi.

Solar wheelchairs and battery-operated buggies, Braille signs, tactile pathways, railings and special toilets are on the cards. But differently abled tourists need more than just monuments and hotels to be made accessible. The entire infrastructure has to be geared to be friendly to tourists with special needs, from transportation and pavements to restaurants, theatres, cinema halls, stadiums, parks and public buildings like post offices and shopping centres. Even in homes and offices, there is little consideration for special needs in India.

Why should we (and employers) not take an initiative too by making our individual environments accessible as well? Besides ramps, little things matter – no unnecessary steps (despite their alleged aesthetic value) to impede mobility, wider doorways and corridors, handles in bathrooms and, most importantly, a sensitive approach. My best friend and her family won’t have problems in my home…

Source: Economic Times , 1st Oct 2016 

Vision beyond eyes: The story of a blind film buff from Kerala

"I am not ready to live my life any lesser than others," Rejoy says.

As a child, Rejoy resented his family members watching television, but did not mind tagging along to a cinema hall with his parents.

“I used to go to cinema theatres just for the AC and to eat puffs during the interval,” says Rejoy KK.

The 22-year-old film buff was born blind.

“At that point of time, it was more or less an unexplained dislike for television. I didn’t want anybody in the house to watch TV, something that I wasn’t capable of doing,” Rejoy recollects.

Things changed a few years later, when the sound of an action movie playing in the house caught Rejoy’s attention and he was intrigued by it.

On his way back from school, bringing home audio cassettes of latest movies became a regular practice. This Malappuram native would spend hours listening to the cassettes over and over again.

He would listen to audio cassette of a new film and then catch the same film in the theatre. 

"The experience of watching a film in a theatre is so very different from listening to audio cassettes. At a cinema hall, I watch a film with undivided attention. I can even hear the sound of rain," he says.

Year 2011 marked a new beginning for Rejoy, who is now undergoing computer training in Thiruvananthapuram.

A Class 11 student then, the Malayalam movie ‘Beautiful’ starring Jayasurya inspired him beyond measure. Jayasurya’s character is paralyzed from waist-down, but lives life without an ounce of worry.

A still from the movie 'Beautiful'

“That movie gave me the self-confidence with which I now speak to people, interact with them. I was a shy boy, who lacked confidence even to react to people when they would taunt me. But not anymore,” Rejoy says.

There is a determination in his voice when he says, “I admit that I am blind, but I am not ready to live my life any lesser than others.”  

Rejoy recounts an incident outside a theatre in Palakkad, when he stood outside the theatre, unsure of where the gate was. A man walked up to him and said that he was standing outside a theatre, a place where he had no business. It cracked him up. 

An ardent lover of Malayalam films, he has a major issue with how physically challenged, especially the blind, are portrayed in films. That is also why 'Beautiful' was a refreshing change.

“There are many films where a blind is portrayed as someone who can’t even take care of himself. People have no clue about how our lives are,” Rejoy laughs.

Though he started off by going to movies with his family, he soon began to go for movies with friends. On a day when his friends did not want to watch a movie he wanted to, Rejoy discovered freedom. 

"Until then I had never considered going for movies alone. But now I don't wait for anyone to accompany me," he says. 

When Rejoy met director Ranjith Sankar in 2015 as part of his under graduation project

His love for movies led him to chose film analysis as his under graduation project. Though met with skeptical supervisors who doubted his ability to 'see' films, Rejoy indeed had the last laugh.

"I may not be the only blind who watches films. But they have influenced me enough to make me a better person," he says. 

Source : The News Minute , 28th Aug 2016 

OMIFCO TO PROVIDE RO50,000 WORTH PROSTHETIC DEVICES - MUSCAT

As part of its cooperation with the Ministry of Social Development (MoSD), Oman India Fertiliser Company signed three agreements to provide prosthetic devices worth RO50,000 to physically challenged on Thursday.

The agreement was signed by Ahmed bin Saeed al Mahrubi, director of finance, Omifco and officials of three charities, Oman Association for the Disabled, Al Noor Association for the Blind and Omani Society for the Hearing Impaired. Mahrubi said the agreements will not only help people with disability, but also promote their integration into the society.

Sultan bin Nasser al Amiri, head of the Board of Directors of Omani Society for Hearing Impaired, said that the agreement was important for the association as it will help meet requirements of the hearing impaired, specially students who are pursuing higher education.

Sultan bin Ahmed al Sabahi, deputy chairman of Al Noor Association said that the grant will help provide prosthetic as well assistive devices for the blind. Yahya bin Abdullah al Amiri, head of the Board of Directors, Oman Association for the Disabled, thanked MoSD and the company for its continued support. H E Dr Yahya bin Badr al Maawali, Under Secretary in MoSD, represented the ministry at the signing.   

Source : Muscat Daily , 28th Aug 2016 

DISABLED-UNFRIENDLY - Ahmedabad

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The disabled-friendly areas should be colour demarcated and texture demarcated so that even the visually impaired can have easy access, says Anjlee Agarwal

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The Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad is an inspiration when it comes to everything related to management and even architecture. But that can't be said of its 'disabled friendliness' if the speech of a keynote speaker at a Smart City Conclave held on the new campus is anything to go by. Speaking at the conclave on Universal Design and Accessibility in Smart City organised on the new IIMA campus, Anjlee Agarwal, who uses a wheel chair, said, "The new campus of IIMA is unsuitable for disabled like me." Agarwal, an executive director and access consultant of Samarthyam, pointed out that though the campus had ramps and special areas for the disabled, failure to colour and texture demarcate these sections made it difficult to access.

Samarthyam is a Delhi-based organization that promotes implementation of design accessibility. Recounting her experience at IIMA, she claimed that she barely escaped tumbling down a cemented platform on campus because she mistook the steps for the ramp as it merged with the flooring, making it difficult for her to distinguish it. She said, "On Friday, I was on campus and escaped falling down.

The ramp and the cement platform merged at a place and since they were of the same colour, I couldn't tell where the ramp started. This is why it is important to colour demarcate the areas for the physically challenged. I shouldn't have to hunt for it, it should be easily visible." The conclave supported by the Union Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment focused on bringing together all stakeholders to discuss challenges and way forward for accessibility in Smart City. Parag Panchal, a participant, said, "Accessibility should be implemented, not just discussed.

I use crutches and I found the floors to be too slippery. One could easily fall if not extremely careful. It was difficult for me to balance myself on crutches." Agarwal said that having a symbolic ramp or making toilets that are accessible for the disabled doesn't make a place disabled-friendly. She said, "IIMA is a premier institute that has become a model for institutes across the country. It is astonishing and sad that the institute has failed to factor in accessibility for the visually impaired as well as the speech and hearing impaired.

The campus has some areas that are created for those with locomotive disabilities but it has a long way to go before it becomes disabled-friendly." She added that her organisation had audited buildings and conducted a workshop with architects on IIMA campus in 2008, suggesting ways to make buildings disabled-friendly. "It is sad that eight years later, nothing has changed." Agarwal suggested that apart from making ramps, the disabledfriendly areas should be colour demarcated and texture demarcated so that even the visually impaired can have easy access. "We will suggest these changes to the IIMA officials. Since it is a premier institute, it would be nice if it becomes a model for all the architects across the country."

Speaking on the issue, Professor Ashis Jalote Parmar who is the brain behind the conclave said, "The report that Anjlee is talking about is with the management. Restoration work is going on the old campus and it will take some time to implement the suggestions. But we have still made some temporary ramps on campus so that people with locomotive disabilities don't suffer." Parmar who spent three months setting up the event said, "Based on my research on accessibility, the Union Ministry of Social Justice invited me to comment on their accessibility policy.

I gave them my suggestions which were received favourably and Isought research grant. The ministry officials agreed and supported in conducting this conclave, bringing different ministries together." Ahmedabad Municipal Commissioner Mukesh Kumar who delivered a talk in the second session of the conclave and interacted with the participants said, "Such conclaves are important to sensitise people about accessibility. I believe such conclaves help in understanding the difficulties that disabled face." Deepinder Singh, from Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology was also one of the speakers at the conclave.

Source : Ahmedabad Mirror , 28th Aug 2016 

A day in the life of Subhash Kumar operating the ‘jumbo fan’ at New Delhi Railway Station

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Accustomed to hand-held fans in his village in Bihar, Kumar now finds himself operating a giant, six-winged electric fan at New Delhi Railway Station. His new job profile, he says, makes him feel like a “hero”

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The first time, Kumar (below) set the giant fan on full speed, and passengers’ luggage went flying; cleaning the fan is the most hectic part of the job, he says. 

Taking A break from cleaning a train which has halted at Platform No. 1 of New Delhi Railway Station, 23-year-old Subhash Kumar walks up to the railing and takes a quick peek at the waiting hall outside. Relieved to see the recently installed jumbo fan running smoothly, he goes back to the train, while having a hearty conversation with his friend and younger colleague Vicky about his plans to take the same train sometime soon to his home in Munger in Bihar.

But these days, Kumar has little time for such conversations. Around two months ago, the 23-year-old, part of the 10-member contractual labour team behind cleaning efforts at Platform No. 1, was given the additional responsibility of operating the huge fan. “Things have gotten a little more hectic now,” he says.

It is 10.45 am on a Wednesday and the footfall at New Delhi Railway Station, one of the busiest in the country, has already crossed a lakh. However, instead of heading to their respective platforms, a large number of commuters are flocking to the waiting hall outside Platform No. 1. The draw is the fan: a six-winged device, with each wing 3.5 m long, installed around 45 days ago to provide passengers respite from the sapping August heat.

Manufactured by Pune-based company EcoAir, the fan has been installed at the station for a trial period of three months. It was put up after railway authorities in Delhi saw similar fans at the Mumbai Central Railway Station. The Railways, which plans to get more such fans for the New Delhi station in a month or two, will be shelling out an estimated Rs 6 lakh for each fan — Rs 4 lakh for the purchase and Rs 2 lakh for installation.

“The fan, which has a total diametre of 24 feet (about 7 m), runs on a 1.5 KW electric motor. Even its shiny red-knob regulator is much bigger than the average ones,” says EcoAir spokesperson Sandeep Jaisinghani. To rule out any chance of it falling on commuters, it has been fastened with thick ropes on all sides, adds Jaisinghani.

Leaning on an electric car — used to ferry physically-challenged passengers — stationed on the platform, Kumar recalls the buzz on the day the giant fan arrived. “All the staff members gathered to catch a glimpse of it, but they all left soon. Since I have always been fascinated with new technology, I stuck around,” says Kumar, who came to the Capital two years ago in search of a job. Little did he know that the railway station he arrived at would become his home away from home.

“Installing the fan was a tedious process spanning over six days…” he continues. “I learnt a lot about the technology used in the fan just by talking to the workers. I think I was given the responsibility of operating the fan because I seemed enthusiastic about it from the beginning. My bosses say my work pressure will increase once all the three fans are installed permanently,” he says.

But Kumar isn’t complaining too much. The slight change in job profile has made him happier and even rid him of his only grouse since arriving in Delhi — not being able to visit his home in Bihar.

Today as he operates the regulator of the jumbo fan, Kumar is reminded of another “hilarious” incident. “The first time I was operating the fan, I had no idea how it worked. I set the regulator on full speed, just like we do with smaller fans. Soon, all the bags and other luggage began flying in all directions. Even the passengers had to sit tight to keep themselves stable. Mein toh ghabra gaya tha (I got a little scared),” he laughs. “Now I only set the speed on one point (the lowest speed).”

On most days Kumar wakes up at 5.30 am, unlike his colleagues who have to wake up much earlier to get to work on time. “I stay at the station so I save on travel time,” he says.

After freshening up at the platform toilet, Kumar reports to work by 6 am, marking his attendance at the health inspector’s office on the first floor. “I haven’t missed a single day of work since I joined. It makes my friends angry though. They urge me to bunk work sometimes and head to the movies, just like they sometimes do,” he blurts out, only to hurriedly retract his comment, worried that his colleagues might run into trouble with the bosses.

“I love Salman Khan. In Bihar I did not miss a single movie of his, but I haven’t seen any film since taking up this job. Sometimes during lunch break I watch movie trailers on YouTube on my friend’s smartphone,” he smiles. “The last film I watched was Kick. I wanted to do something as noble as Salman does in the film but soon I realised that I needed to save for my family first.”

Now, Kumar says, becoming the jumbo fan operator gives him a sense of being a “hero”.

He eagerly waits for the 10th of every month, when his thekedaar (contractor) hands him his salary: Rs 9,000, “not a penny less”. “I send some of it home. My mother says she feels proud that her son is earning so much in the big city,” he says with a big grin.

A railway official, however, hints Kumar’s fan job may not last too long. “We are trying to make the platform a smart one. Soon all electrical equipment will be managed with the push of a button from the control room. We have already started it on Platform No 8 and 9,” he says.

It is a little after 2 pm, and time for Kumar to head to the ‘multi-cuisine’ eating hall on the platform for lunch. Today it is his daily staple: a small serving of dal-chawal. On pay day, he opts for a “lavish lunch”.

Replenished, Kumar and his team — Vicky and Sunny, both residents of Azadpur, 13 km from the railway station — get down to their most hectic task: cleaning the giant fan. “We switch off the fan, place a ladder under it, and then begin cleaning the wings of the fan with a mop and soap water. It’s a tedious process but fun,” he says.

Around 5.30 pm, Kumar and his crew begin wrapping up for the day. He has two options now: either to have dinner at his friends’ home in Azadpur or find a spot on the platform and stare at the trains passing by, remembering his days in Bihar and all that he has left behind. On most days he settles for the latter.

“It is sort of ironical that I have been given charge of such a huge fan. Back in my village we still use hand-held fans,” he comments, now spreading a blanket on the platform, his bed for the night.

As for the fan, Kumar says it is switched off only when the officer who is in charge of the platform asks him to do so.

As he settles in, his thoughts wander to the giant fan again. “I have never seen anything like this before. Now that I have seen this fan, I feel like I have seen everything. I can die in peace,” he says, dozing off, oblivious to the loud sound of the trains passing by.

Source : The Indian Express , 28th Aug 2016

Centre launches ‘Sugamya Pustakalaya’ an online library for Persons with disabilities

The department of empowerment of persons with disabilities, (DEPwD) on Wednesday launched 'Sugamya Pustakalaya' - an online library for Persons with print disabilities as part of the Accessible India Campaign.

The online library has been created in collaboration with National Institute of Visually Handicapped (NIVH), member organizations of Daisy Forum of India (DFI), Bookshare and powered by TCS Access.

Joint Secretary DEPwD, Mukesh Jain informed the audience that there are more than 52 lakhs people with visual impairment (2011 census) and that one of the most important components of the Accessible India campaign is making ICT services accessible for people with disabilities. This online library will focus on collection of all accessible materials from all over the country in single online library system. It will enable each member organisation to provide services to their members and draw on resources of all other organisations of the country. Users will be able to get books anywhere in the country at a single location. The e-library platform will work in collaboration with international agencies such as 'Bookshare' and 'Accessible Books Consortium' to make accessible books from all over the world available to users in India.

At the launch, union minister for Information Technology, Ravi Shankar Prasad said that the launch of this e-library was as step towards realization of the Digital India Campaign and an example of public service through innovative use of IT. Prasad informed that his ministry has already made 400 websites out of a total of 1800 websites accessible.

Speaking on the occasion, minister for social justice and empowerment, Thaawarchand Gehlot said that the "Sugamya Pustakalaya" is a platform that would enable content to be made available to the visually impaired persons.

Human Resources Development minister Prakash Javadekar emphasized on the importance of breaking barriers in knowledge dissemination. He pledged his ministry's support to the e-library initiative and said that HRD Ministry will endeavour to accomplish the task of providing all text books of all boards to users with special needs through this online library.

Source : TOI , 24th Aug 2016 

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CBSE planning to update its affiliation byelaws: Chaturvedi - New Delhi

The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) is planning to "update" its affiliation byelaws for schools to usher in more transparency and to bring them effectively in tune with legislations like Right to Education Act and Persons with Disabilities Act.

CBSE chairperson R K Chaturvedi told reporters here that there is a need to update the existing norms and bring them "in tune" with the existing laws.

"We are planning to look at the byelaws and make them more compatible with the existing legislations. The government will also bring in the New Education Policy in the coming days. We have to ensure that our norms are in consonance with the overall policy," Chaturvedi said at the sidelines of CBSE conference on "Examination reform for Inclusive Education." 

He said the RTE Act allows children with special needs to pursue mainstream education, but most of them are forced to go to special schools.

"Inclusion", Chaturvedi emphasised, rejects the use of special schools or classrooms to segregate the differently abled children from other students.

"Generally, the schools use the inclusion model for selected students with mild to moderate special needs. Fully inclusive schools do not separate general education and special education curriculum, instead, education curriculum is restructured in such a way that all students learn," he said.

Chaturvedi also said that section 26 of 'The persons with Disabilities Act, 1995' mandates the provision of free and compulsory education to be offered to all children with disabilities up to minimum age of 18 years.

He also said that the affiliation bye-laws of the Board insists on making the school barrier-free, provisioning for ramps, lifts, etc and directs that every school shall promote inclusion of student with disabilities or special needs.

Officials also said that there are a issues ranging from inclusivity to complaints related to demands of capitation fees to issue related to heavy school bags and undue homework, etc which are being faced by the board.

Source : The New Indian Express,23rd Aug 2016 

Smart cities missing out on accessibility and inclusivity

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“While the entire smart cities (project) is data- driven project, there is no data on accessibility. Since there is no data, there is very less likelihood of including it into the indicators," said, Subhash Chandra Vashishth

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Smart City Project.

Leading experts from various sectors batted for the government to have more accessibility and inclusivity indicators in the Smart Cities Mission at the national conclave on Universal Design & Accessibility (UD &A) in Smart Cities, organised by the Indian Institute of Management-Ahmedabad Saturday.

Speaking on the sidelines of the conclave, Subhash Chandra Vashishth, lawyer and founder of CABE, said, “While the entire smart cities (project) is data- driven project, there is no data on accessibility. Since there is no data, there is very less likelihood of including it into the indicators. Accessibility is actually still not on the agenda of smart cities, that’s what we have seen in our experience. It’s on automation, on getting smart technology — but not planning the environment keeping the last link — the weakest and most vulnerable person in mind. Unless that happens, this is not sustainable and we may have to end up redoing it in the future. So far we have been looking at accessibility as a charity and talking in terms of percentages, but we have not been benchmarking it.” He added that accessibility reforms will be brought in with the NBC (National Building Code) 2016.

“The IT infrastructure currently employed in corporates and banks etc that is usable by mainstream needs to be usable by all, which is where the gap really lies. For example, if you use a software in a bank, its usability by a blind person is not taken into consideration. And what it leads to is that no blind person is then placeable in that bank. Secondly, there are certain key building blocks for IT infrastructure and accessibility. One of them is this text to speech technology and it doesn’t work for us in Indian languages despite India becoming an IT hub of the world. Lots of research is happening through labs, but different models need to be brought in,” said Dipendra Manocha, managing trustee, Saksham Trust.

“The entire framework for smart cities is looking at how to provide IT infrastructure that is smarter, but who are the people going to use it? Especially children, old people, women etc, and people with disabilities who are not that smart. People creating these smart cities should also look at what unsmart people we are planning for in terms of programme, plan, delivery accessibility and usage. The smart cities mission misses out on the accessibility and inclusivity bit as many people who are not IT savvy, economically backward,” said Anjlee Agarwal, executive director, Samarthyam.

Source : The Indian Express, 28th Aug 2016