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Transport facilities

For a normal person, traveling by public transport is tiresome, to say the least. How much more exasperating is it for those of us who are physically challenged?

Anu lost both her legs in an accident at the age of 12. Supported by her crutches, she travels from Lingarajapuram to Koramangala everyday on account of work. Buses and autos are her main mode of transport. She says that it is difficult to commute by bus but she does not have a choice.

Stanley suffered a stroke three years back, leaving him completely paralysed on the left side. Traveling for him is impossible without assistance. His wife Emily states that unless she goes with him and monitors his every move, there is no chance of his traveling. A mode of transport that will understand his needs and allow him to travel on his own would be a dream come true.

One out of every ten persons suffers from a handicap that prevents him or her from traveling. What remedies do we offer them?

Assistant Commissioner for Disabilities, Pradeep Kumar says that the Government of Karnataka offers several benefits to people who are physically challenged like bus passes are given to them at concessional rates and there is a 90 per cent concession on travel up to 100km throughout the state. The floors of BMTC buses have been lowered to facilitate entry and exit and two seats are reserved for handicapped people. Bus stops in 17 districts so far have seen new additions. Ramps and wheelchairs kept for the use of the disabled. The government is also working in collaboration with NGO's to educate people on how to handle the physically challenged.

Assistant Traffic Manager, KSRTC, Veena Desai adds that additional benefits are also given. All telephone booths are reserved to be manned by physically handicapped people only. New toilets with special facilities are being constructed.

Will these make any difference or are they mere drops in an ocean? Promises are all very well. But how often does one find wheelchairs at railway stations or bus stops? How many passengers give up their seat in a bus to a handicapped person who enters? Concessions on bus passes are given only to those who are born with a physical handicap. What happens to the rest? The questions go unanswered.

Shaan Khaleel says that more often than not, it is the attitude of people towards the physically challenged that makes a difference, reserved seats in buses are not vacated when a handicapped person enters, and bus drivers and conductors choose to ignore the situation. Krishna who is paralysed waist down says that there are times when she feels she is an inferior being!

Maybe it's time to borrow a leaf from Taiwan's book. Why Taiwan, you may ask? The reason being is that the government of Taiwan, a country not remotely as large and developed as ours, offers stunning benefits to those who suffer from physical handicaps. Vehicles are modified to suit the physical condition of the handicapped and there are special drivers for the blind.

The icing on the cake however is the arrival of a bus at the doorstep of the handicapped person.

All it takes is a telephone call. Concessions are offered in the areas of education, occupation, transport and accommodation.

Can our country offer its people the above-mentioned benefits too? Will we learn to be more sensitive to the needs of the physically challenged? Indeed we can. If only we would try. So lets try!

Source: Transport: relief for the disabled? Deccan Herald, Bangalore, 31 May 2005.

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Vision-Engineering solutions for the visually challenged

Vision-Engineering Solutions for the Visually Challenged V.S.Arjun, M. Mayur and S Karthick from the IT department of SSN College of Engineering, Chennai have come up with a novel innovation to help the visually challenged persons find their way safely, avoid obstacles and have texts read out to them. This innovation by the students is one of the projects chosen out of 200 projects submitted to the International Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineering. They are among the top ten global teams short-listed for an international design competition to be held in Washington DC.

The Indian team will compete with top colleges from countries including China, USA, UAE, and Poland, Romania, Pakistan and Columbia.

Arjun, Mayur and Karthik were sitting in their college canteen when they decided to work as a team under the project 'Vision - Engineering Solutions for the Visually Challenged", and enter the competition. The project has four modules to meet different needs.

Arjun narrates that the first module is voice-based e-learning. A visually challenged person can sit before a PC that is connected to a main computer. He or she is given a basic tutorial in operating the software and, then, can choose any text that would be read out by the computer through a text-to-speech converter.

The second module helps the person move around in the house using a transmitter and put on/put off various electrical appliances. The electrical appliances are connected to a computer and voice commands are used to operate them.

Karthik explains that when they were working on the modules, they had several brainstorming sessions. Sometimes there were differences of opinion. But they sorted them out after seeing which solution worked. But, the third module of the project did not come from the students. They decided to adapt a technique used by the bat to find its way in the darkness. Just like bats emit cries of high frequency and use reflected waves to determine how far various obstacles are, the team has created a sonar object location system that is fixed to the cap of a visually challenged person so that they can then safely navigate their way.

The fourth module of the project is a Braille keyboard skin. While there are Braille keyboards, the student's team has come up with a keyboard skin that can be fixed to any computer. Each Braille sign corresponds to various English alphabets and visually challenged persons can type out what they want. This could come in useful, especially for persons with both visual and speech impairment.

The students say that the college management and staff encouraged their efforts. College Principal S. Salivahanan has assured them of funding support for the project. Their mentor V Seshadri, Professor Emeritus at the college, has found a special place in their hearts. Mayur recounts with pride that Professor Seshadri taught them Software Engineering. The students on their part have convinced Seshadri to accompany them to Washington.

Source: SSN students develop modules for the blind. Indian Express, Chennai, 1 June 2005.

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Independence for the physically handicapped

Sudhangshu Das a professional magician, who trains physically challenged youths in the art of magic now has a 6-member team of physically challenged magicians, who have just completed their training under the Regional Entrepreneurship Development Programme (REDP). This team will be participating in a three-day international magic festival to be held in New Delhi on September 23, 2005 under the initiative of the SAARC.

In the valedictory function held at the VRC for Handicapped in the city, 35 disabled persons were imparted training, the training comprised managerial and entrepreneurial skill development as well as practical aspects of the skills. Fifteen government officials formed a majority of the faculty who provided theoretical inputs. Dilip Sharma, Pranabendu Bikash Dhar's students, along with Taru Baruah Dev and Sudhangshu Das, experts in beauty and magic respectively, imparted practical training. It is planned that these kinds of programmes will be conducted at the district level so that disabled persons of the rural areas are benefited in the long run.

Source: Training camp for physically handicapped held. The Sentinel, Guwahati, 2 June 2005.

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Disabled in BTAD move to Kalam over demands

Disabled in BTAD move to Kalam over demands The All BTAD (Bodoland Territorial Area Districts ) Disabled Persons Association recently submitted a memorandum to the President of India with a 17-point charter of demands seeking his personal involvement in resolving the issues.

The Association was formed recently with Lalit Kumar Brahma as the President and Nandalal Choudhary as the Director of the Association. The association was formed with the objective of advocating for the protection of the legal rights of disabled persons in the four districts namely Kokrajhar, Chirang, Udalgiri and Baska under the PWD Act, 1995, apart from the constitutional protection with adequate socio economic safe guards for sustenance with compassion in the BTAD area.

In the memorandum, the association alleged neglect to the disabled persons by the government in this region and demanded an early resolution of the issues.

Among others, one of the significant demands the association has raised in the memorandum is to nominate at least one member from this association to represent the General council of BTC to ensure adequate representation in the 40-member council.

The other demands include establishment of a blind school and a school for the hearing impaired the area. The association has also demanded

  • a monthly pension of Rs. 600 to the physically handicapped,
  • 5 percent reservation of jobs for them with 3 percent for loco motor disabled person and 2 percent for others,
  • to implement the law of 1981 in respect of reservation of jobs in government services,
  • allotment of 3 percent developmental works from the MP, MLA and DRDA fund monthly sanction of Rs. 15,000 for the association,
  • appointment of a separate secretary in BTAD for the physically handicapped,
  • allotment of dealership for them as per 1986 Act,
  • inclusion of disabled members in all selection boards of the departments
  • extending free medical, educational and communication and transport facilities
  • establishment of a CRC office for the physically handicapped persons.
In this regard, the association also held a convention at Kokrajhar, the headquarter of the association where a large number of physically handicapped persons from the entire BTAD participated and resolved unanimously to place their demands before the president of India for favour of his kind intervention. The association also submitted the memorandum to the Chief Justice of India, the Prime Minister of India, the speakers of the parliament as well as the Chief Minister of Assam and the chief of BTC among others.

Source: Disabled in BTAD move Kalam over demands, Assam Tribune, Guwahati, 1 June 2005

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A crafty plan

Mohammad Salim, a physically handicapped, he lost one of his leg in a road accident in the year 2004. He then filed a case for compensation but has gotten only yet another date instead of justice every time. He is not financially sound so his case is under the Vidhik Seva Pradhikaran and a government lawyer is his legal representative.

When his pleas went unheard, and tired of his life of begging on the streets (he had to turn to begging after his accident) Salim in a fit of rage and anger entered the cabin of Justice Sangita Dhingra and attacked her with a knife. Although his aim was not to kill he was arrested there and then. Apparently, things were according to a well thought out plan, as prison is what he wanted as a way out of poverty anyway!!!

He smiles and says that he is happy in prison, as he is free from the life of disgrace and poverty.

Sources: Viklang ki judge pur hamle ki koshish, Rajasthan Patrika, Jaipur, 4 June 2005; Viklang ne judge ko chaku deekhaya, bandi. Amar Ujala (daily), New Delhi, 4 June 2005; Insaaf mein deri se bokhlaye viklang ka judge pur hamla. Jansatta, New Delhi, 4 June 2005.

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No facilities for disabled students

Delhi University is insensitive about disabled students. Nine years after the disability act made it mandatory for a barrier free environment and seven years after the University Grants Commission (UGC) announced a special scheme, colleges have done nothing to make their premises disabled friendly for either lack of knowledge or sheer will.

In reputed colleges like SRCC and Hindu there is no barrier free entrance. All off-campus colleges including Gargi, Miranda and Sri Venkasteswara have steps at the entrance and no ramps. The classrooms are accessible, but the toilets are not accessible in all five colleges. Braille books and cassettes are not available in Gargi and SRCC. Adding fuel to the fire is the fact that none of college officials are aware of UGC's efforts in accessibility.

Last year, 1010 seats were reserved for the disabled out of whom little more than 300 students were admitted. This is not because the disabled are lazy or not intelligent but they have no avenues to go to college. There are colleges that have no provisions for holding classes on the ground floor, no ramps, no elevators, and not even wide doors in toilets for wheelchair users.

Now the question is, if a private school can provide facilities why not the government who has the money and the mandate? But for Nipun who has scored 92% in his class XII exams and is a wheelchair user, it is a simple question of whether he will make it to college? He asks cut-offs are a deciding factors but what is the use of these cut-offs if one can't even enter the college.

Sources: Tough time for the disabled. The Tribune, Chandigarh, 2 June 2005. Viklang chattron ke liye suvidhan nahi. Rashtriya sahara, New Delhi, 2 June 2005. Disabled quota seats go unfilled in DU. Kashmir times, Jammu, 3 June 2005. Rampant violation of disability act: study. Deccan herald, Bangalore, 3 June 2005. Viklang chattron ke dakhilen ke liye abhiyaan chalaya. Jansatta, New Delhi, 2 June 2005. For some, DU is not the place. Asian age, New Delhi, 3 June 2005.

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A Kind Tiger and The Sincere Cow

Children from Four Steps and Akshay Pratishthan got together to perform the "Kind Tiger and The Sincere Cow". Enacted by 50 mentally and physically challenged children, the play told the story of a promise between a tiger and a cow. Directed and choreographed by Guruji Sallauddin Pasha, the pioneer of Indian Therapeutic Theatre, the kids had rehearsed hard for more than a month.

They surely could have challenged any able-bodied theatre artist with their performance. And if nothing else, the special children, who were mentally and physically challenged, definitely did sensitize the audience about their beyond the handicaps.

Aruna Dalmia, Chairperson, Akshay Pratishthan said that looking at the camaraderie between the children, it was to believe that they had met only a month back and the kids had a great time and it was a mutual learning process.

Following their motto of small steps in the right direction are better than none, Jayanti Dalmia, Chairperson, Four Steps said that the play was a part of an exercise to promote extra-curricular activities like candle-making, dancing and sports, apart from training them in academics. The children at Akshay Pratishthan too followed a similar cultural structure of studies. Aruna said that the kids at Akshay Pratishthan are never made to feel conscious of their disabilities. Instead, they are treated as equals, capable of performing like any other child.

But why stage the play in public? To sensitize people, Jayanti said that people should accept them as they are and be more caring towards these children.

Guruji Sallauddin Pasha trained the children with the help of traditions Indian dance forms and therapeutic theatre workshops.

With over 15 years of experience in catering to challenged kids. He said that the children need no mercy - only opportunity to develop self-confidence.

Sources: Four Steps to freedom. The Pioneer, New Delhi, 3 June 2005. Special kids are a class act. The Hindustan Times, New Delhi, 3 June 2005. 'Therapeutic' ballet by special kids steals show. Asian Age, New Delhi, 3 June 2005.

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Learning Disability - What's that? ask DU officials!

The admission procedure is taxing for students with disabilities. The mother of a student with dyslexia, a learning disability, seeking admission to DU said that she was really upset. She said nobody guided them when they asked for clarifications. She added that her son had a certificate that he is dyslexic issued from Safdarjung Hospital, but the officials were unaware whether it qualifies for the quota. She said there was no psychiatrist on the medical board to assess if her son's disability was above 40 percent, a requisite to avail the reservation.

There are hundreds of candidates with learning disability who apply under the quota. Most applicants face the problem of accessibility, the office of Dean, Students' Welfare, in North campus is the only place where they can obtain and submit admission forms. An applicants' father, PL Bakshi said they got to know about this being the only center after a trip to South Campus office. He said they have come to north campus from Vasant Kunj for registration after traveling in two buses and an auto. He said another centre should be opened in south Delhi as well.

On the other hand, the authorities say that another center is not need as there are only a few students with this problem. Adding in a rather callous manner some even remarked that if admitted they will have to cover the same distance everyday. They said they could consider this case only when a number of students approach them. Volunteer student counselor, Anchal Arora said they helped, but there had been cases when applicants were sent back because they did not carry all the documents.

Source: DU still a long haul for disabled, Indian Express, New Delhi, 4 June 2005

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No-one is safe not even disabled people

A mentally challenged 52 year-old woman of Chhatar village was raped at Raja ka talab, recently. A case was been registered under section 376 of the IPC. According to the police, the accused Giri Raj, alias Fauzi, has been arrested. Giri Raj found the victim alone at Raja ka talab at midnight and forcibly took her to a mango grove where he raped her. Nek Mohammad, a local chowkidar, raised the alarm when he heard the cries of the woman and subsequently identified them in court.

Source: Mentally challenged woman raped, 2 held. The Tribune, Chandigarh, 4 June 2005.

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