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Differently-abled pour out transport woes

Click here to read from source: The IBN Live

CUTTACK: The Government proclaims that it is sensitive to the problems of access faced by the physically challenged. It also claims spending huge sums in installing infrastructure. But the disabled are still to feel any discernible change in the scene across the State.

Travelling by the public transport system has posed a major challenge to the physically challenged as the vehicles do not have the facilities for easy boarding and alighting. They are also subjected to serious harassment while commuting.

The Government has spent Rs 1.60 crore on equipping the public transportation systems with facilities for people with disabilities. In spite of the claims, the people have not benefited.

Instances of harassment were galore at the public hearing organised by the National Trust of the Union Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment in association with the Committee for Legal Aid to Poor under the Badhte Kadam initiative here.

Submitting before the hearing panel, one Bijay Kumar Sahoo, a student of BJB College, Bhubaneswar, alleged that seats were not offered to persons with disabilities. Though there was provision of free travel for persons with disabilities, he was charged by the conductor even in the State-run City Bus Service in the State capital. Another participant Dolly Sahoo of Arabinda Nagar in Ganjam district also stated that she was harassed and misbehaved by the bus conductor while travelling regularly. Though there were provisions for reserving seats for physically challenged, they were not offered to the beneficiaries.

The panel comprising Dr V Pruthviraj, former Justice of the Orissa High Court PK Mishra, People with Disabilities Commissioner Kasturi Mohapatra, Registrar of State Commission for Persons with Disabilities SK Mishra, Cuttack Collector Girish SN took note of the problems.

The issues would be put up before the Government for immediate action, the panel promised.

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Special drive to enrol people with disabilities for Aadhaar

The Hindu, NEW DELHI, November 22, 2011

SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT
In a major initiative to enrol people with disabilities for the Unique Identification (UID) number Aadhaar, the Delhi Government, UIDAI and non-government organisation Svayam have joined hands to reach out to such people across the Capital.
At a formal launch of the initiative at Jindal Centre auditorium, it was stated that the move was aimed at facilitating enrolment of people with disabilities and was in line with the broader national vision of including all marginalised groups, such as people with disabilities, with Aadhaar.
Identity proof

Aadhaar is a 12-digit individual identification number issued by the Unique Identification Authority of India on behalf of the Government of India. This number will serve as a proof of identity and address, anywhere in India.
Speaking at the occasion, Svayam founder Sminu Jindal said: “We hope this association with UIDAI along with the support of the Delhi Government would help disabled people to get enrolled in a friendly and accessible centre being organised in their areas.”
As part of the initiative, Svayam, UIDAI and the Delhi Government would organise special enrolment camps across Delhi. Through this initiative, Svayam will to reach out to the disabled residents, NGOs, DPOs, CSOs across the city and UIDAI would be organising the camps with support of the Delhi Government.

In the initial phase, the camps will be conducted at 15 locations within the city including places like Vasant Kunj, Rohini, Vikas Puri, Narela, Hauz Khas and Bhajanpura.
Effective monitoring

Speaking of Aadhaar’s special drives a UIDAI official said: “The UIDAI started enrolling residents in Delhi on October 2, 2010, and to date has enrolled almost 80 lakh residents for Aadhaar. For the UIDAI, the priority has always been enrolling those residents for Aadhaar who are vulnerable or do not have any form of identification.”

The unique identification project was initially conceived by the Planning Commission as an initiative that would provide identification for each resident across the country and would be used primarily as the basis for efficient delivery of welfare services. It would also act as a tool for effective monitoring of various programmes and schemes of the Government.

In the initial phase, the camps will be conducted at 15 locations

 

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Aadhaar centres to get disabled-friendly

News coverage in Hindustan Times, 16 November 2011

HT Correspondent

To facilitate people with disabilities in enrolling for Aadhaar – the Unique Identification Number (UID) – the Delhi government has set up special enrollment camps with the help of Unique Identification Authority of India. The government has also roped in Svayam, a non-government organisation that works for people with disabilities to identify such people and help them in getting registered for Aadhaar.

Aadhaar is a 12-digit individual identification number issued by the Unique Identification Authority of India on behalf of the Government of India. This number will serve as a proof of identity and address, anywhere in India.

“Some of the Aadhar venues are inaccessible for people with disabilities and at certain places basic facilities such as toilets are not available.  People with speaking and hearing disabilities also face problem while communicating with the staff at the camp. We will help such people,” said Subhash Chandra Vashishtha, programme co-ordinator for Swayam.

The organisation has also tied up with local NGOs to identify and bring such people to Aadhar centres. Senior Delhi government officials said that these enrollment camps are being set up at 15 locations in the Capital.

Vasant Kunj, Rohini, Vikas Puri, Narela, Hauz Khas Bhajanpura and Seemapuri are some localities where these camps are being organised.

Click here for link to HT-

http://epaper.hindustantimes.com/PUBLICATIONS/HT/HD/2011/11/16/ArticleHtmls/Aadhaar-centres-to-get-disabled-friendly-16112011006005.shtml?Mode=1

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Special Aadhaar Camps for Persons with Disabilities launched in Delhi

Press Release

Svayam,  Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI )  & Delhi Government facilitate Special Aadhaar Enrolment Camps for Residents with Disabilities

New Delhi, November 15th, 2011:- Svayam, UIDAI and Delhi Government have joined hands to facilitate enrollment of people with disabilities for the Unique Identification (UID) number- Aadhaar. This is in line with broader national vision of including all marginalized groups such as people with disabilities. A formal launch of this special enrolment drive was held today at Auditorium, Jindal Centre. The event witnessed participation by various government officials, Camp Coordinators, residents with disabilities and other eminent personalities.

Svayam, UIDAI & Delhi Government will organize Special Enrollment Camps across Delhi State.  Through this initiative, Svayam will to reach out to the disabled residents, NGOs, DPOs, CSOs across the city and UIDAI and Govt. of Delhi will be responsible for organizing and conducting the camps.

In the initial phase, the camps will be conducted at 15 locations within the city including places like Vasant Kunj, Rohini, Vikas Puri, Narela, Hauz Khas, Bhajanpura etc.

Speaking at the occasion, Ms. Sminu Jindal,  Founder of Svayam said “It’s a great honour to be associated with UIDAI. It’s a wonderful initiative and we hope this association along with the support of Delhi Government would help disabled people to get enrolled in a friendly and accessible centre being organized in their areas.”

UIDAI RO Delhi while speaking of Aadhaar’s special drives said, “The UIDAI started enrolling residents in Delhi on 2nd October 2010 and to date has enrolled almost 80 lakh residents for Aadhaar. For the UIDAI the priority has always been enroling those residents for Aadhaar who are vulnerable or do not have any form of identification.”

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List of Dates and  Venue for the Special Camps

for Persons with Disabilities in Delhi

organized by Svayam in joint collaboration with UIDIA & Delhi Govt & NGO Partners

Proposed Dates Event Name Location/ Venue Coordinator  & their Aadhar Number with Contacts details
15 Nov 201111 AM- 12.30 Formal Launch of special enrolment camps for Persons with Disabilities for Delhi  followed by an inaugural camp for 20 Persons with Disabilities Launch FunctionAuditorium, Svayam, 12 Jindal Centre Bhikaiji Cama Place New Delhi-66 Mr. Subhash Chandra VashishthProgram Coordinator-Svayam, 9811125521, Subhash.vashishth@svayam.com  & gmail.com

16 Nov 2011 (Wednesday)

10AM-5 PM

 Special enrolment camp for Persons with Disabilities South Muskaan , B-2 Vasant Kunj, New Delhi-110070. Mrs. Neera Chawla, 9911591810, neechawla@hotmail.com
17 Nov 2011(Thursday)10-5 PM Special enrolment camp for Persons with Disabilities South WestARSD College, Dhaula Kuan,Delhi University South Campus  Dr. Topan Dass, ARSD College, Dhaulakuan, New Delhi

Phone: 09891874513 Email:  Arsd_library21@yahoo.com
18 A/N  & 19 Nov 2011 (Friday /Saturday) Special enrolment camp for Persons with Disabilities North Equal Opportunity Cell, Delhi University Dr. (Ms.) Chandra Nisha Singh  cnishasingh@gmail.com  09810630544 (mob) 27662602 (office)
20 Nov 2011 (Sunday)10-5 PM Special enrolment camp for Persons with Disabilities North East DelhiF-29, Near Chand Bagh Pulia (Bhajan Pura Chowk) Khajoori Khas, Delhi-110094 Mr. Pradeep Raj

Gen. Secy. – Association for Disabled People

Mob: +91 9350164514, Ph: +91 11 46532258  pradeeprajsuperidol@gmail.com disabledpower@yahoo.in,
21 Nov  2011(Monday) Special enrolment camp for Persons with Disabilities South C-21, Qutub Institutional Area, New Delhi  Dr.  (Ms.) S Muthulakshmi

Principal, Sahan Special School for the Mentally Retarded (India) 09811209495

madamlakshmi@yahoo.co.in

sahan06@rediffmail.com
22 -23 Nov 2011 (Tuesday & Wednesday)10-5 PM Special enrolment camp for Persons with Disabilities North West: Raja Harish Chander Hospital Narela, New Delhi Mr.  Rukshar Ahmad Khan

Mob: 9013760786, societydev@gmail.com
24 Nov 2011 (Thursday)10-5 PM Special enrolment camp for Persons with Disabilities South National Association For the Blind, Centre for Blind Women, L 25, Hauz Khas Enclave, New Delhi 110016Contact No: (011) 41656266, 26852589 Ms. Karuna

Assistant Director,NAB Centre

Mob No: 9582772052, email nabindiacbw@hotmail.com

karunapunjabi@hotmail.com
25 Nov  2011(Friday)10-5 PM Special enrolment camp for Persons with Disabilities South EastMPCC, Dera village, Delhi (near Bhati mines) Mrs. Seema Chadha

Project Manager- Dera Residential Project

Mob: 9868034448, Sm_chadha@yahoo.co.in
10 Dec 2011(Saturday) Special enrolment camp for Persons with Disabilities South DelhiSabalD-66, Chattarpur Extn., Near Baba Balak nath Mandir ,New Delhi -110074 Mrs. Deepa Pandey  Principal-  SABAL

Mobile: 9716481381
11 Dec 2011(Sunday)10-5 PM Special enrolment camp for Persons with Disabilities East  Bhola Sadan, A-89, Street-7, Jagat Puri, Delhi-110051 Mr. Surender Bhola 

(Gen. Secy. of Panjabi Yuva Sangathan), addbhola@gmail.com, Mob: 09213953775
12 -13 Dec 2011(Monday and Tuesday) Special enrolment camp for Persons with Disabilities EastLeprosy Mission Hospital, NandnagriNew Delhi-93  Mr. Manoj Varghese

Aadhaar No: 901264921371

Technical Media Expert

The Leprosy Mission Media Centre
M-9899683808, manojmediacenter@yahoo.co.uk


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DTC to allow free travel for visually challenged passengers

NEW DELHI, October 1, 2011

Source: The Hindu 

The Delhi Government has decided to provide free travel in air-conditioned Delhi Transport Corporation buses plying in Delhi and the National Capital Region to all visually-impaired people. It has also decided to remove the income limit on senior citizens for availing of concessional travel on DTC buses.

Announcing these decisions, Transport Minister Arvinder Singh Lovely said on Friday that while free passes being issued to blind persons were earlier valid in only non-AC buses plying in Delhi, from October 1 they would be valid in all AC and non-AC buses plying in Delhi and the NCR. At present about 12,900 such passes are issued annually by the DTC.

The Transport Minister said the Delhi Government has also decided to remove the income ceiling for allowing senior citizen passes         for travelling in DTC buses. He said all residents of Delhi would be entitled to these passes on reaching the age of 60. While the non-AC pass costs Rs.50 per month, the AC pass costs Rs.150 per month. About 4.5 lakh passes are issued in this category annually.

On the operation of DTC buses, Mr. Lovely said its fleet of 6,500 buses includes 1,270 low-floor AC buses and 2,505 low-floor non-AC buses.

DTC ridership up
Last year the average daily ridership was about 30 lakh, the Minister said adding that about 45 lakh passengers use DTC services on average each day now. To cater to their needs, the Corporation makes 40,000 trips per day covering a combined distance of about 10 lakh km.

The higher ridership has also led to increase in DTC revenue. It is now earning about Rs.3.5 crore per day, which is significantly higher than last year’s average of about Rs.75 lakh per day.

Mr. Lovely said the Corporation is also going for greater use of technology to improve its efficiency and profits. He said global-positioning system (GPS)-based automatic vehicle location system has already been installed in about 3,700 DTC buses and now covers almost all the low floor buses.

Through this system the speed of buses is being closely monitored and as such the cases of over speeding and fatal accidents have reduced drastically, the Minister pointed out. He said the Corporation is also taking punitive action against drivers for over speeding. Similarly, the system is being used to prevent idling or unauthorised rest by drivers and to ensure that no trip is missed, he added.

As for the Passenger Information System (PIS), Mr. Lovely said it would soon be launched by the Transport Department so that passengers waiting at a bus stop know exactly which bus plying on which route would be reaching them. “In the first phase, 100 bus shelters will be taken up involving about 2,500 DTC buses and this would include the cluster bus service,” he said.

The Minister said electronic ticketing machines would also be introduced in DTC buses soon to help in smoother operation of bus services.

Mr. Lovely said disciplinary action had also been taken against some DTC staff members for various violations. He said 947 drivers and 723 conductors reported not to be in uniform while on duty were challaned or were cautioned with strict warning. About 300 cases of improper parking were detected and 632 cases on non-display of LED/destination boards were detected.

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JNU continues to be disabled unfriendly

Hi,

Often to tackle the enforcement issues, the authorities start interfering with the inclusive features of the built environment. They forget that this tweaking in the design can make certain constitutes of the social fabric entirely disabled. An example of this is placement of bollards on the kerb ramps and slopes to stop misuse of the pedestrian pathways by motor bikers etc. This results in barriers for persons with disabilities and break the seamless chain of accessibility.

Those responsible for managing and maintaining such  public infrastructure must be cautious while planning any such intervention. On the contrary, it is advisable to invest in enforcement and initiate heavy penalties against violators. The Jawahar Lal Nehru University Campus seems to doing the same mistake (read the news item below)  and it should be corrected sooner than later as this is most likely to discourage the persons with disabilities from studying in the JNU.

Accessibility for disabled a major problem at JNU

At Jawaharlal Nehru University, it may be easy getting admission, but for disabled students accessibility is key issue.

Akshansh Gupta, 28 a PhD student is physically challenged since birth and cannot move around without assistance. He is also unable to push his own wheelchair. His attendant, Mahajan carries him around the campus, to and from his classes, as there is no ramp to reach first floor. Even going to the canteen for a cup of tea becomes a task since Mahajan has to carry him up and down the stairs.

Though there are ramps at many places in the varsity, each of them have pillars at both ends, making it impossible for wheelchairs to pass through. Wheelchairs have to be folded and carried from between these pillars while the person made to walk through.

“It is a lot of trouble for me. It is difficult to move from place to place,” rued Akshansh. Garima, studying at the Social Sciences department and using crutches to walk around the campus suggested an on-campus transport system as the solution. “If there could be some sort of vehicle to help disabled people reach their departments, it would be really helpful,” she said.

Vice Chancellor, JNU, S K Sopory said this was a problem that has to be dealt with at the earliest.

“I have surveyed the area along with staff from the engineering branch and it was decided that wherever these ramps have barriers, they will be removed.” he said. JNU authorities plan to make the buildings more disabled friendly in about two months time.

According to general secretary of the JNU disabled person’s association, Mohammad Tariq, inaccessibilty is a major problem in the renowned varsity.

“The text book section of the library, the periodical section, the canteen, Aravali International guest house, a community center at Saraswati Puram and a few more hostels are also inaccessible for physically challenged people. We are still looked upon like strangers” said Tariq.

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Four wheelchair users to tour country’s monuments

Sunita Sancheti, 40, has never ventured out of her house without being assisted by a family member to manoeuvre her wheelchair.

However, this September, she will cover approximately 16,000 km at a stretch by road without their assistance.

“If not for the world, I am hoping to at least go around the country in 80 days on my own,“ said Sancheti, who will travel to tourist spots across 28 states along with three other wheelchair users -Arvind Prabhoo, 42, Nishant Khade, 40, and Neenu Kewlani, 41.

The group, that calls itself the Adventurous Four, will undertake the Beyond BarriersIncredible India project to gauge how accessible the country is to wheelchair users. It plans to submit its observations and an access audit report to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.
“Tourism for the disabled is nonexistent in India. Right from the lack of disabled-friendly urinals on the roads to the absence of supportive infrastructurevisiting architectural marvels in our country is an ordeal,“ added Sancheti. Under the guidance of the Vijay Merchant Rehabilitation Centre for the Disabled (VMRCD), they will visit two monuments in every state during their three-month trip, and will discuss the challenges with the states’ chief ministers and disability commissioners.

“Travelling such long distances at a stretch is going to be a big challenge,“ said Kewlani, who will also be travelling outside the city without her family for the first time. “Keeping in mind the health concerns, we will also be accompanied by our care-givers,“ she added.

For Prabhoo, who conceptualised the project, visiting the tourist spots has been a childhood dream.

“The enthusiasm is overpowering the nervousness. By putting ourselves on a spot, we are hoping to make a larger difference in the lives of the 10 % of the country’s population that is disabled,“ he said.

Published in : Hindustan Times.