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Varanasi

Madras Court says No to Lift-buses

A lift attached bus, the choice of the Metropolitan Transport Corporation (MTC) to ensure a barrier-free environment for disabled persons, failed to impress the Madras High Court.

On June 12, 2005 the First Bench of the court restrained the MTC from introducing new buses that did not have disabled friendly arrangement.

It asked the transport corporation to come up with an alterative by May 5, 2006. The MTC authorities demonstrated the lift operation to Chief Justice A.P Shah and Justice Prabha Sridevan in the court premises.

However, the judges were of the opinion that it was not “feasible” as the slow operation would delay other passengers.

The judge felt that instead low-floor buses should be considered for the needs of the disabled in Chennai.

Petitioner’s point

In his petition, Mr Rajan said that as per Section 44 of the Persons with Disabilities (Equal Opportunities, Protection of Rights and Full Participation) Act 1995, government agencies must ensure non-discrimination in transport system by adapting rail compartments, buses, vessels, aircraft, toilets and waiting rooms in such a way to permit easy and convenient access top disabled persons and wheelchair-users. The MTC failed to give effect to the mandatory provisions, he said.

Source: Court rejects MTC facility for the disabled. The Hindu, Chennai, 19 April 2006

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Uttar Pradesh steps on the “Education for All” pedal

With increasing number cases of disability coming to light every day, the Uttar Pradesh government has decided to ameliorate their condition by putting them at par with other section of society.

The officer in charge for the welfare of the Disabled - Rohit Nadar, observed that the government is making an effort to bring and improvement in the condition of the disabled by utilising funds from the “Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan” in several programmes. He also observed that ‘Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan’ has made a difference to many disabled children suffering from polio through corrective surgery in districts such as Allahabad, Varanasi, Satpur, Bulandshahar, Gorakhpur, Unnav, Sultanpur, and Maharaj.

Mr. Nandan also mentioned that in previous years ‘Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan’ became instrumental in organising a nursery programme for about 30 children (3-9 years age) of different districts to make them capable for being promoted to class one.

Source: Disabled students would now get facilities for free. AAJ, Varanasi, 18 April 2006.

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Interactive Voice Response System for Disability related information

Union Social Justice and Empowerment Minister Meira Kumar inaugurated an Interactive Voice Response System (IVRS) that has been developed to provide people with information on disabilities and to enable them to avail information on services in their neighborhood. The 24-hour service in the Delhi telecom circle will give information on diagnoses, treatment, counseling, education, employment, government schemes and other facilities.

The information is available in Hindi and English and can be accessed by dialling 29825094, 29825095 or 29825096.

Facilities the Ali Yavar Jung National Institute for the Hearing Handicapped for taking the initiative to set up the services, Minister Kumar called for extending the facility to rural areas.

The Disability Line is the second such facility in the country after the one set up by the Maharashtra- Goa Telecom Circle, which became operational in September 2005. The ministry proposes to set up similar helplines in all telecom circles soon with information available in Hindi and local languages.

As per the 2001 census, 2.19 crore people, constituting about 2.13 per cent of the country’s population, after from disabilities, Seventy five per cent of the people with disabilities live in rural areas.

About 49 per cent are illiterate and only 34 per cent are employed.

Source: Disability helpline opened in New Delhi. The Hindu, Delhi, 21 April 2006.

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More on accessible bus shelters

To make the 197 upcoming new bus queue shelters for which the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) has given the contract to an European advertising firm - J.C. Decaux disabled-friendly and as good as the model barrier free shelter constructed by Delhi Transport Corporation at Hauz Khas Terminal recently, the disability rights group Samarthya has suggested a number of measures. These include keeping the height of the shelters at 38 cm to make them compatible with low-floor buses that will be operational under the High Capacity Bus System.

After the first steering group meeting where Samarthya made its suggestion, Europe’s leading outdoor advertising company JC Decaux decided to visit the model shelter at Hauz Khas on April 26 to incorporate the changes. Since the design has not been finalized as yet, there is hope that the suggestion would be kept in mind to make the new shelters accessible to all especially since the contract would run for a period of 15 years. There is also a sense of urgency regarding the matter as the construction work is scheduled to start in June, 2006 and would be completed in just four months.

“We have suggested that the height of the shelter be made 380 mm and to approach the bus shelter there should be a ramp on both sides with handrails at two levels and textural or tactile clues for persons with vision impairment. Further, there should be a demarcated space under the shelter for two wheelchairs, Braille plates with the name of the bus English, and audio beepers for orienting blind persons,” said Anjali Aggarwal of Samarthya.

Source: Disability rights’ group suggests bus shelters. The Hindu, Delhi, 22 April 2006.

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IIT develops SMART (for the blind)

The students of the computer science department of the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), New Delhi have devised a technological gift for the blind. This device, named as ‘SMART’ would acquaint the visually challenged with realities such as route numbers of buses direction to the address of friends or relative or informatory with regard to a shopping mall. Not only this, the stick has an ability of transmitting radio-electric waves to acquaint the blind with obstacles and things scattered in their way thereby protecting them from any potential harm.

The students of IIT have been working consistently on the device for years in coordination with the ‘National Association for Blind’ and the project has cost approximately fifty thousand rupees.

This device is marked by many novelties. While an ordinary stick can acquaint the user with obstacles in the way for a distance of about two to three feet, this stick is endowed with the ability of doing the same for six feet. Similarly, it signals when a vehicles is about to pass near the visually challenged. It also has an inbuilt speaker which can acquaint the person with the bus numbers.

One of the participants in the project, Dheeraj Mehra, mentioned that the stick is comprised two technical conventions - vibration technology and ultrasonic laser. While former acquaints the blind with the hurdles on the way, the latter would simplify their traveling in a bus. While the first part is ready, the second part is being imparted some final touches.

Source: Now ‘Magical stick’ devised for the blind. Dainik Bhaskar, Faridabad, 22 April 2006.

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Sparsh gifts'

‘Sparsh India,’ a voluntary organization engaged in humanitarian cases, gifted over 200 equipment and gadgets like tricycles, wheelchairs, hearing aids and stretchers among the physically challenged at a function organized at Sunder Nagari in East Delhi, its president Geeta Meena and Renu Jogi, wife of former Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Ajit Jogi, gave away the gifts. AICC Secretary Moolchand Meena, area MLA Veer Singh Deewan, AICC secretary in charge of ST department Sunil Lakra were among those present.

Source: NGO gives away top physically challenged. The Hi9ndu, Delhi, 24 April 2006

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Camp for the mentally retarded

The Thakur Hari Prasad Institute of Research and Rehabilitation for the Mentally Handicapped (THPI), founded in 1968 by Dr. Thakur V. Hari Prasad, a renowned social activist, scientist and father of a son with mental handicap is beginning to extend its reach and services to other parts of the country.

THPI is a nonprofit voluntary organization, early identification, intervention and rehabilitation for the mentally handicapped. Although based in Hyderabad, a team of rehabilitation specialists from the institute hosted a two-day camp in Mumbai on April 22 and 23, 2006 tp promote their residential facility and to identify cases for the same. The THPI has dedicated itself to enhancing the quality of lives of people with a mental handicap. It is headed by a multi-disciplinary term, drawn from different disciplines pertaining to rehabilitation for the mentally handicapped.

The institute specializes in providing care and treatment for patients with Down Syndrome, Cerebral Palsy, Fragile X Syndrome and Autism.

The programs are custom-tailored for each individual and focuses on self-care, home living, communication, social/interpersonal skills, academic skills, work and safety. According to Dr Thakur V. Hari Prasad a hostel service for these persons is essential as very often parents want to provide security and care for their child but are unable to do so in a home environment. “Rehabilitation is an ongoing process and the time and medical attention required by such patients is not always available at home,” he says.

Source: Two-day camp for the mentally challenged. Mumbai Mirror, Mumbai, 20 April 2006.

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Imparting sight to the blind through organised programmes.

The health ministry, keeping in sync with its national programme launched in the year 2004-2005, conducted an examination of 2425 patients with visual disabilities. About 134 patients were interviewed and an effort was made in the direction of rectifying faulty vision of about 250 children by offering a simple solution - a pair of spectacles.

As far as school children were concerned, about 7345 children were examined. The officer i/c of health services, Dr. Umashankar Lal and eye specialist, Dr. RP Maurya, assured that a holistic programme for the entire province was on the anvil. It comprised about eight teams which would probe into remedial measures with regard to diseases such as polio, tuberculosis, cough and diarrhea. All relevant services and medicines would be made available for the patients.

Source: A step in the direction of imparting sight to the blind through organised programme. Aaj, Varanasi, Harhua 20 April 2006.


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