From the States

Guwahati

Mumbai

New Delhi

National Center for the Differently Abled

IGNOU (the Indira Gandhi National Open University) provides help for the four lakh parents of differently abled persons looking for advice on bringing up their children and integrated them into society. The solution is a part of an ambitious project to create awareness in society that handicapped persons are not liabilities, and to this effect the University has developed programmes aimed at information dissemination. The modules are part of the material being prepared by the IGNOU for the National Center for the Differently Abled, which it is setting up soon.

"Till now, we have developed two programmes on mental retardation and visual impairment. We are also at an advanced stage of preparing material on hearing disability and cerebral palsy," stated IGNOU Pro-Vice Chancellor SC Garg.

The Modules have been developed in association with the Rehabilitation Council of India and the National Association for the Blind (NAB). The assistance of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) and the National Human Rights Commission of Canada has also been taken.

A pilot project using the modules has already started in Jharkhand and care providers have responded positively. This pilot project was carried out with the help of NGOs as part of the Sarva Siksha Abhiyan. Enthused by its success, IGNOU now wants to develop distance education material for the differently abled which will help them become productive members of society.

As a first step, a module in Braille will be developed in association with NAB for the empowerment of the blind. When its National Center for the Differently Abled becomes fully operational within six months, programmes, for those with other disabilities will also be developed.

The Centre, which will be the second of its kind in the country after the one in Madhya Pradesh Bhoj (Open) University, will prepare the material in the medium most appropriate for the particular kind of disability.

Source: IGNOU offers helping hand to parents of disabled, Assam Tribune, Guwahati, 2 May 2005.

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Better facilities orders the Bombay High Court

The Bombay High Court provided some relief to persons with physical challenges by asking the state government to provide ramps at public places and special toilets for them throughout Maharashtra in the next six months.

The division bench of Chief Justice Dalveer Bhandari and Justice Sharad Bobade passed the order in response to a public interest litigation (PIL) filed by the Indian Law Society College, Legal Aid Center, Pune.

In 2002, they told the court that the Disability Act, 1995 was not being properly implemented in the state. "The PIL said that public transport and all public building should have facilities for the physically challenged", explained advocate Jamshed Mistry.

Interestingly, Mistry said that last March (2004), the court had ordered the Brihan-mumbai Electrical Supply and Transport (BEST) undertaking to set aside 30 physically challenged friendly buses out of the 1,000 buses the organization wished to purchase.

But BEST shocked the courtroom when it revealed this week that it had acquired only one prototype of such a bus in the last 15 months.

Saying it was helpless, BEST argued that Tata Motors, which was manufacturing the bus, was taking longer than expected. But promised five more buses in the next one month and 30 by December, 2005.

However, the court has summoned the authorities from Tata Motors and BEST on June 15 and has asked them to file an affidavit explaining the reason for the delay, Mistry said.

The court had also asked the Maharashtra State Transport Corporation to examine the feasibility of having such buses all over Maharashtra, he added.

Source: Ramps for disabled, special toilet ordered, The Indian Express, Mumbai, 7 May 2005.

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Cricket for the Blind

Blind they may be, but that does not prevent them from sensing the similarities in the people and cultures of India and Pakistan

As Delhi has been playing host to the blind cricket team from Pakistan for about 10 days, on the heels of a five-week long visit to this country by their national team, the sentiments they will be taking back with them are those of enduring warmth and hospitality of their hosts.

"The series has been good, people have taken care of us well. We are very happy with all the arrangements for our benefit and we are enjoying the hospitality," Pakistan’s blind cricket team’s captain Syed Sultan Shah says.

The team of blind cricketers from Pakistan arrived on April 26 (2205) in India to play a reciprocal five match one-day series, after the Indian team had visited Pakistan in February 2004. Four of the five matches of Pakistan’s maiden tour to India have already been played in the national capital with the concluding match ending yesterday.

Though the 20 member squad from across the border have been issued visas that curtail their travel plans to Delhi alone, they have been enjoying the sounds and tastes of Delhi. Daily trips to places of interest including the Jama Masjid, Chandni Chowk and Connaught Place, coupled with hectic shopping, has ensured that the stay has been a memorable once. Chaperoned around by their local hosts, the 14 blind players and six officials have not missed out on special treatment from all those who recognize that they are from Pakistan.

The level of warmth and mutual respect even between the teams was there for all to see. After India won the fourth match to take a 3-0 series victory, with the third match having been washed out, players from both teams were seen hugging one another as the celebrations turned into a triumph of the game and their spirit.

"The warmth is very evident and the reception has been good. Even the Indian president (Dr A P J. Abdul Kalam) hosted us on Tuesday. When such encouragement comes, one knows that the game is headed in the right direction," said Agha Shauqat Ali, chairman of the Pakistan Blind Cricket Coucil (PBCC).

"It feels like we are in Pakistan. We crossed the Wagah border by foot to convey the message that we as a people have a common heritage and history. We (the common people) should build such good relations that even the governments will have their hands tied," he added.

The on-field and off-field bonhomie would continue to flourish if the blind cricket associations of both nations continue to hold sway, says Ali. Plans are afoot to institute an India-Pakistan blind cricket-rolling trophy from next year that will see both teams visiting each other every other year.

May be if the two teams continued to play each other and media continues to highlight the game with as much enthusiasm, there will be a day when visiting blind cricketers from across the border will attract as much attention and adulation that their sighted counterparts do.

Source: Cricket for the Blind, Mid Day, New Delhi, 6 May 2005.

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