From the States

Chandigarh

New Delhi

Orissa

Srinagar

Will there be better implementation of PWD Act in HP

The Himachal Pradesh government in concern for the welfare of disabled persons formed a welfare board for them under the chairmanship of the Chief Minister. This body will help redress the grievances of the disabled persons and take various welfare measures for them in a better manner.

Does this mean that the people of this state will fare better now - going by the experience of the other states around the country, it does seem that much more than just a Welfare Board would have to be set up to damage control the lack of implementation of the PWD Act that has plagued the disability sector.

But still it is a step in the right direction, the rest only time will tell.

Source: Welfare of disabled, The Tribune, Chandigarh, 8 June 2005.

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Making buildings disabled friendly

National Centre for Promotion of Employment for Disabled People (NCPEDP) has sent a few recommendations to the Municipal Corporation of Delhi, which is all set to implement a new set of buildings byelaw by January. The building is to include 'disability access', 'barrier free environment for disabled', 'universal design'.

NCPEDP reveals that it is their expectation that at least the buildings should include 'disability access' as one of the key requirements for the buildings. The land use, density, height, setback of buildings and parking are also to be taken into account as per the needs of disabled people. A representative of the organization pointed out that the architects and construction engineers on the MCD record should have a through knowledge of disability access. The NGO has specially appealed the disability access experts to involve themselves in preparation of new buildings.

Source: NGO wants building byelaws to be sensitive to needs of disabled, The Tribune, Chandigarh, 8 June 2005: Proposal to make buildings disabled friendly, The Statesman, New Delhi, 8 June 2005.

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Differently abled children need to be fully integrated in schools

The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has taken steps to make the affiliated schools disabled friendly. It has recently issued notice to schools asking them to provide barrier free education in schools, libraries, hostels and laboratories. On this Ms Usha Chaujer, a member of the National Focus Group on Education of Groups with Special Needs said it was important that these children are not just admitted into normal schools but also kept in the same classroom as the rest of the children. She said it required team work - a team comprising teachers, parents and special educators.

The CBSE is also taking initiatives to provide adequate number of Braille books in schools, other support services like sign language interpreters and transcription services. The schools are to pay special attention for the availability of appropriate study material for the disabled. Apart from this authorities will also try to provide talking text books, reading machines and computers with special speech software. The Board has also asked to provide appropriate transport facilities to the disabled children. Teachers may also be sensitized to the requirements of children by organizing service training programmes

Mr Ramesh Singh of Sambhav, an organization working with disabled said it is a good initiative taken by the CBSE and that he hoped that such a move will prompt other school boards to take same steps to make schools barrier free.

Source: CBSE to be disabled-friendly, Asian Age, New Delhi, 11 June 2005; Differently abled children need to be fully integrated in schools: Experts, The Tribune, 11 June 2005.

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Just kill us! plead a family of disabled members

Motor mechanic Yunus Ansari has four sons and a daughter out of which three sons and a daughter is physically handicapped.

Manjul Ansari (32), Mohammad Faiz (28), Mohammad Shamsh (20) and Tarranum (23) their only sister, are bed-ridden. They are dependant on their younger brother who is just 16 years of age. Frustrated with this existence the family has appealed to the Hon'ble President of India Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam Azad, that they should have be killed as they do not even have resources for their treatment.

The story is indeed a sad one - their father did what he could. He took them to Vellore, he took them to AIIMS in New Delhi was in his reach for them. In his limited earnings he showed them from Vellore Christian Medical College to All India Institute of Medical Sciences for muscular dystrophy.

When they first appealed for exercising their right to death in 2001 they were sanctioned Rs. 400/- in cash, 2 wheelchairs and Rs. 100/- kerosene oil as help. One of District Officer recommended Rs. 50,000/- be given to each member - but nothing really came.

The District Administration has given them the assurance that a job as a typist could be provided to one of them……. But the question is how will they be able to learn typing with such weak muscles?

Source: Maut mangti zindagi. Sahara-Samay, New Delhi, 18 June 2005.

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Awards for the positions of eminence

In the Auditorium of Radio Kashmir, in Srinagar 10 physically challenged persons were awarded trophies and certificates in recognition of their achieving positions of eminence in the society despite their handicap.

The Director of Information Farooq Renzu dwelt on the problems faced by physically challenged persons and appealed to the society at large to contribute in the welfare of this important segment of the society.

The Director, Social Welfare gave a resume of the schemes launched by the government for the welfare of such persons and said that Rs. 40 crores are annually provided as assistance to the handicapped and aged persons in the State.

Source: 10 physically challenged persons honoured. Kashmir Times, Jammu, 10 June 2005.

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