The ‘Accessible India’ campaign to coincide with World Disability Day (December 3) could have come a day sooner. India fairs poorly in infrastructure that’s sensitive of those with different needs. Hence, Accessible India’s aim of making public transport and spaces, tourist spots, airports, railways and even government websites friendly for differently-abled people is indeed praiseworthy. That said such intentions have been expressed before but haven’t yielded the desired results. In India only two per cent of differently-abled people are self-dependent, whereas in China 80 per cent of those with different needs can function independently. It’s been 20 years since the Persons with Disabilities (Equal Opportunities, Protection of Rights and Full Participation) Act was passed. Since then building bylaws and various provisions under ASI guidelines for the differently-abled have been promulgated. But these have mostly remained on paper. Mobility and social interactions for differently-abled people continue to be huge challenges. In Jammu most of the building are not differently-abled compliance. The problem lies in the government’s piecemeal approach. Empowering those with disabilities can’t be restricted to the social justice ministry. It must necessarily involve all government agencies and verticals. Similarly, building public infrastructure that’s disability friendly can’t be executed in isolation. It needs to be incorporated in the tender and funding conditions of construction contracts. For disability-friendly infrastructure automatically translates into pedestrian-friendly infrastructure. The public sector too must do its bit to empower the differently- abled. It’s deplorable that companies in this sector are woefully short of filling their mandated three per cent quota for persons with disabilities in their workforce. They must lead the way by surpassing this target.
