Disabled meet calls for making discrimination punishable

Disabled meet calls for making discrimination punishable

A three-day national conference of National Platform for the Rights of the Disabled (NPRD) concluded here on Sunday evening with a call for amendments to Article 14 and 19 of the Indian Constitution to make it disabled-friendly.

“Rights of the disabled are not mentioned anywhere in the Constitution. Discrimination against the disabled should be made a punishable act in the country. The Union government needs to ensure better education, employment, food and healthcare service to the disabled,” said Kanthi Ganguly, national convener of NPRD and former Sports Minister of West Bengal.

The rights of people with disabilities can only be protected if the Constitution was amended to include punitive action for discrimination against them, he said.

According to CPI (M) politburo member Brinda Karat, who took part in the proceedings spread across three days, the organisation has no affiliation to any political party and was formed as a joint platform of disabled persons from 14 States. The platform has over 3 lakh members and it strives to ensure equal justice for the disabled,’’ she said.

Listing out the discriminations to which the disabled people were subjected to, Ms. Karat said even the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Bill was not passed so far by Parliament though its draft was prepared long back.

“There is no scope for tokenism here. We need solid steps to ensure changes in the social mindset towards people with disabilities. This change will not happen until you put down a law that penalises those who discriminate,’’ she said.

Putting the struggle for the rights of the disabled in context with policies that seek to cut welfare subsidies, she said at the core of the programme was the demand for State intervention. “It makes sense and logic that all disabled persons must have BPL cards. Every disabled person should have the right to free healthcare, education and food,” she said.

According to NPRD assistant secretary P. Muraleedharan, people with disabilities were often at the mercy of the system, which required them to run from one department to another for various services or entitlements. “There should be a universal card so that people with disabilities do not have to go to a separate place for railways passes, bus or transit passes, educational services, or jobs,” he said.

Source : http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Kochi/disabled-meet-calls-for-making-discrimination-punishable/article5437310.ece

Air India forces Disabled Passenger to Cancel Ticket : A Case of Mr. Md. Faizal Nawaz

Air India forces Disabled Passenger to Cancel Ticket

Mohammad Faizal Nawaz, a 30-year-old engineer with the Indian Institute of Astrophysics, Bangalore, says the choice between travelling by Air India and Indian Railways is like choosing between the devil and the deep sea. Hailing from Delhi, he has been taking trains to travel between Bangalore and Delhi since May after a traumatic experience with the Air India in April.

Two days prior to travel on April 12, Nawaz was made to cancel his tickets from Bangalore to Delhi and re-book it for April 19 as he was 'late' in informing authorities about his condition. Nawaz suffers from severe respiratory compromise, and has a life-long disability. Despite mailing his certificates to AI, he was asked to personally submit the certificates at their Bangalore and Delhi offices or risk another cancellation. A disability rights activist, he has suffered from kypho scoliosis (abnormal curvature of spine) and polio since childhood. A spinal surgery in 2012 forced him to use BiPap (portable ventilator) and oxygen support.

"I emailed my ticket details and medical certificates to AI reservation managers at Delhi and Bangalore," he says. "I was advised to cancel the tickets and submit a form along with certificates from my physician and AI physician," says Nawaz. He cancelled tickets, filled the medical assistance form, got it certified from his physician at Bangalore, and booked a return ticket from Delhi to Bangalore for May 9. A few days before the departure, he was asked to personally get his documents certified from the medical section of AI as the email copies were of low resolution.

He filled a new MEDA form and sent certified copies to AI's Delhi office two weeks before his return journey. "I got a call from AI saying my certificates were two weeks old and as my medical condition could have changed since then, I had to get myself physically examined again and submit new certificates, else I would have to cancel my tickets."

An AI official in Delhi said, "In case of respiratory conditions, the airline has to ensure the aircraft has enough oxygen cylinders. There is no specific time limit before which the passenger must inform about his or her requirements."

Source : http://www.indianexpress.com/news/air-india-forces-disabled-passenger-to-cancel-ticket/1146429

Empower the Disabled, demand Activists in Raipur

Empower the Disabled, demand Activists

An Interview of Rajnish Kumar Arya 

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Raipur: Peeved at the manner in which the government is implementing the state policy on disability, activists are demanding setting up a separate ministry for empowerment of persons with disabilities.

Talking to TOI, on the occasion of International Day of Persons with Disabilities, under the theme of “Break Barriers, Open Doors: for an inclusive society and development of all” – disability activist Rajneesh Kumar Arya, said the estimated population of persons with disabilities in Chhattisgarh is about 38, 31,779. According to Census 2011 data on disabilities are yet to be published.

Pointing out  that education is one of the most effective tools by which children with special needs could achieve social and economic empowerment , he said even after enactment of different laws, like the PWD Act 1995, 12 years of Sarva Shiksha Abhiyaan (SSA) and three years of RTE Act, 2010, the situation of education for children with special needs are on margin.

Still about 80 % of rural as well as 50 % of urban part of children with special needs are out of reach of education facilities. Under SSA, Arya Said, Rajiv Gandhi Shiksha Mission has appointed only 177 mobile resource advisors in against of 292. There are 142 blocks in Chhattisgarh. As per MHRD provision, there should be three such MRAs in each and every block from each major disability area like visual impairment, hearing impairment and mental retardation, but in the case of Chhattisgarh it is just two.

Adding that there is no district resource centre in the state, the activist said he felt that there should be some degree courses in state universities, including B. Ed. Special or M. Ed. Special.  “It is a matter of surprise that not a single university in Chhattisgarh has included a chapter or paper focusing on disabilities in general education”.

Even SCERT of Chhattisgarh has not contributed much on this, he said. Arya an expert working in the field of disability, rehabilitation claimed that inclusion of barrier free environment for persons with disabilities (PWDs) are on papers and not on ground in the state. He said even the office of commissioner for persons with disabilities; at Durg is not barrier free or disabled friendly.

Source : Times of India, Raipur Print Edition, Page no. 2 dated 4th December, 2013

Not a Disabled Friendly Electoral System in India

Not a Disabled Friendly Electoral System in India

While it tried through media campaigns to improve the voter turnout for the Delhi Assembly elections, a large number of persons with disability (PwDs) were still unable to reach the polling booths — as they were not disabled friendly — and could not exercise their franchise.

A case in point was that of Neeru Gautam, who works in the disability sector with Sahyogi. A resident of Block 34 of West Patel Nagar, Ms. Gautam decided to cast her vote by taking her power chair all the way to the polling station in Block 26 Community Centre.

However, on reaching her polling booth, she realised there was no ramp to enter and the entrance to the room was also blocked by a wooden pole which had been put in the middle of the passage to segregate the incoming and leaving voters.

“As my chair could not enter the room, I asked the election staff to come out and help me cast my vote. But despite repeated pleas, no one came forward. Then one person offered to lift me physically, which I refused outright and I came back without casting my vote,” she rued.

Ms. Gautam incidentally had been voting in every election. “Earlier, I had a helper who would take me inside the booth but ever since I became independent due to my power chair, I have not felt the need for one. The Election Commission should have ensured ramps and barrier-free access for the PwDs in this election.”

Some PwDs also vented their anger on social networking sites. Abha Khetarpal, a wheelchair user and president of NGO Cross the Hurdles, wrote on the Facebook page of Dr. Satendra Singh, Coordinator with the Enabling Unit of the Equal Opportunity Cell of the University College of Medical Sciences, how polling booth number A-28 in Subhash Nagar, where she had to cast her vote, had no ramps for wheelchair users and no Braille stickers.

She commented: “So, in this politics of vote bank, polling stations are inaccessible. How can this be called government of the people, by the people and for the people?”

Ms. Khetarpal also noted the media often asks for proof about such shortcomings in the electoral system. “But taking pictures is not allowed — a disabled system indeed.”

For his part, Dr. Singh said: “I haven’t seen any attempts on the part of the Election Commission to publicise voting facilities for the disabled. There is no information on radio or media. However, kudos to the EC Delhi to finally make their website accessible to visually impaired. Sadly, EC’s website is still inaccessible.”

Despite the heavy odds, some PwD voters remained determined to cast their vote. Virender Kalra, a bank manager and a resident of Subhash Nagar, was one of them. When he found there was no ramp for his wheelchair to climb on, he got two persons to lift him and take him inside the polling booth. “I was determined to vote and did so to play my role in ensuring a healthy democracy,” he said.

Source : http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-newdelhi/not-a-disabled-friendly-electoral-system/article5423840.ece

Allahabad University student leaders blind, deaf to issue of making campus disabled-friendly

Allahabad University student leaders blind, deaf to issue of making campus disabled-friendly

While Allahabad University's student leaders have come forward to back a physically handicapped student of JK institute, to an extent that a mob assaulted faculty members of the institute, none of these student leaders have taken up the issue of building ramps on the campus or providing other amenities for the physically challenged students studying at AU.

Among thousands of students pursuing various courses at Allahabad University, there are 125-odd students with disabilities who have risen above their physical handicap to receive education at AU. These students are not only hurt by repeated incidences of assault on the teachers and subsequent disturbance in studies, but also feel neglected because their issues are seldom taken up the student leaders.

On the eve of the International Day of Disabled Persons on Monday, TOI spoke to some physically challenged students pursuing various courses at AU, and discovered that negotiating the campus is a challenge for most. Among other problems, unavailability of ramps at different departments and offices poses hindrance to smooth functioning of these students. Take the case of Santosh (name changed), who after passing BA from CMP Degree College is pursuing MA in AU. "Things are fine with me as study is the prime aim for students like me coming to AU. But since my class is on the first floor, it makes things a bit harder. Same is the case with most offices of AU or central and departmental library," he added.

Several departments of the AU are built on several levels and difficult for handicapped students to negotiate. Same is the case with the central library wherein the reading hall for the undergraduate and postgraduate students is at the first floor and since the architecture of the library follows the old style, the first floor is a bit higher as compared to modern buildings.

"Indeed this is a genuine problem and should be given some thought. The library authorities are ready to make special arrangements for the differently-abled students of AU, like making them sit on the ground floor itself, if someone among them comes and puts forward the demand," said the library authorities.

Moreover, all the departments, barring JK and Centre of Behavioral and Cognitive Sciences, do not have the provision of ramps. The situation is same, be it the stairs of the office of the dean student welfare (DSW), which is visited by every handicapped student of AU. "We are very much concerned about the problems being faced by the differently-abled students and would surely find a solution," said the dean student welfare, Prof R K Singh.

But although the optimistic DSW wants to help the students, things have not been attended to for the past many years and the differently-abled students have to manage things by themselves. Even the AU V-C had asked the authorities to construct the facilities for physically handicapped students. Moreover, the district administration had come forward in providing monetary help to varsity administration which would be given under Government of India's scheme, SIPDA. The letter of the district administration has asked the varsity administration to prepare a budget proposal for providing these facilities on the campus and the needed funds would be provided to AU under SIPDA scheme. Among the facilities, varsity would be given money for constructing ramps in public building, adaptation of toilet for wheel chair users, Braille symbols and auditory singles in elevators or lifts etc.

Although the letter did mention that once the varsity authorities prepare the proposal and submit the same with district administration, the needed funds would be released, nothing concrete has been done. This, despite the fact that it has been over six months since the said letter landed in the campus.

"We feel cheated that the same student leaders, who have so forcefully raised the issue of Aftab Alam, the handicapped student of JK Institute, have neglected us," said a differently-abled student of the campus. Are these leaders concerned about welfare of all the students or do they only want to gain popularity by raising selective issues, he questioned.

Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/allahabad/Allahabad-University-student-leaders-blind-deaf-to-issue-of-making-campus-disabled-friendly/articleshow/26758321.cms

Fleet For Disabled Rolls Out

Fleet For Disabled Rolls Out

Close to World Disability Day (December 3), KickStart, a fleet of three disabled-friendly cabs, hit the road on Thursday.

It's designed to provide accessibility to persons with disabilities and senior citizens, and aims at making Bangalore transportation-friendly for all. The fleet comprises three cars re-modelled for the differently-abled.

"The concept is constructive and a much-required service which provides freedom, mobility and dignity to those who need support. Such an initiative will surely make the city more inclusive," said KS Rajanna, state disability commissioner.

The service providers plan to create employment for women and transgenders as cab drivers. Apart from training drivers to be sensitive to passengers, vehicles are being fitted with a GPS-tracking system. "Over the next five years, we expect to reach out to 5,000 persons with disabilities and the elderly. Though three is a very small number, it's not bad for a start. We hope to gradually scale up our fleet," said Vidya Kalyani Ramasubban, director, Wheels of Change.

It's an initiative of MphasiS with Wheels of Change (an NGO) as the partner.

The three vehicles

* First cab: Swivel-chair model where the front passenger seat comes halfway out of the door. This enables the passenger using crutches/ walking stick to stand up and sit down as in a regular chair. Transfer from seat and vice-versa is simple with this adaptation for wheelchair users too

* Second cab: Has ramp that opens out of the vehicle door, enabling the wheelchair user to get in through the ramp. Wheelchair is locked in the vehicle for a safe ride

* Third cab: Front passenger turns out like the first model. The wheelchair frame can be attached to the bottom of the turned-out seat. The whole seat can be brought out of the car and the car seat becomes a wheelchair as it comes out

Who benefits

According to the 2001 census, there are 6 lakh persons with disabilities and 7 lakh senior citizens in Bangalore

* Assuming about 10% of this population are potential cab-users, that number is 1.3 lakh

* 96% of people with disabilities who responded to a survey spoke about their need for accessible transport service

Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bangalore/Fleet-for-disabled-rolls-out/articleshow/26543102.cms