Despite PM’s call & government claims, PwDs continue to face accessibility issues
Thursday, 09 February 2023 | Tanuja Rawat | DEHRADUN
Despite Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s focus on enabling the disabled and the State government’s claims of doing the needful, the reality in the provisional State capital Dehradun- the most developed city in Uttarakhand- makes it appear as if the actions taken by the authorities for the Persons with Disabilities (PwDs) are limited mostly to documents and discussions.
The executive director of National Centre for Promotion of Employment for Disabled People (NCPEDP) Arman Ali says, “Dehradun is a smart city where many people are suffering from permanent and temporary disabilities. Proper planning is needed- which is missing- to ensure that such citizens are able to access their rights and live like general citizens so that no person is left behind.
People with disabilities rarely become a part of the mainstream. There are neither properly designed footpaths nor transportation for them in the city. Although ramps have been made at many places, no prescribed standard has been followed in them. There are many malls, shops and hospitals which have ramps but still these places cannot be accessed without assistance,” said Ali.
He further added that every child has the fundamental right to education but students who are physically disabled cannot access schools because there is no proper seating arrangement, no special washrooms for them, no facility of lifts in case the class is on an upper floor. Due to lack of proper facilities, people become victims of poverty and inferiority complexes. There are no properly trained teachers for such students, he said.
“The government can play a very major role by taking many steps to encourage the disabled people and facilitating their development. The government should make some policy or constitute a committee for ensuring that they access their rights, which have been neglected for many years now. The government should take steps like making proper ramps and lifts mandatory in all schools, colleges and public places to ensure access to the disabled. Schools should have properly trained teachers who can help them mix with other students and build their mental strength,” added Ali.
It should be mentioned here that in December last year, Ali had met the PwDs commissioner after reviewing the status of various tourist places of Uttarakhand and measuring the accessibility of significant spots in Rishikesh and Dehradun. Ali and his team had informed the commissioner about the issues and hurdles regarding the accessibility of these tourist places by PwDs.
