Barrier Free Environment
Wednesday, May 21, 2008
The face of the developing countries has been changed in last decades of years. Much contributed by the changed infrastructure of the countries. Skyscrapers, fascinating interior, ultra mode usage of the machines etc have made the lives more convenient and fancy for the city or metros dweller. But, in search of our convenience we forgot the level of difficulty, the handicapped must be facing. The progress in infrastructure has not added any freedom for them. For disabled persons, such built environments have added inaccessibility, uncertainties, anxieties and dangers. In India the discrimation towards disabled can be perceived on roads, markets, business centers and transport system.
Disabled people face difficulty in accessing the public places, shopping malls and transports etc. For a physically handicapped with wheel chair, staircase, steps and escalators are the difficulty and for the blind people smooth marvel surface is the reason for inaccessibility. Furthermore, for the Blind the absence of directional and safety features that they can hear and touch restrict their mobility.
PWD Act 1995 has mentioned a separate chapter VIII for Non-Discrimation. It is clearly mentioned that the Public transport, hospitals, PHC’s, buildings, traffic signals, and railway pavements should be provided with ramps and engraved pavements, and elevators should have auditory signals or Braille signs To ensure that rural infrastructure too becomes disabled friendly, 3% budget under Rural Development schemes has been earmarked by Govt. of India. But the fact remains that most of the States have failed to extract any benefit out of the allocated budget for this purpose leaving Indian villages in a state they were before introduction of schemes. Hence, inspite of various policies, laws, rules and regulations, little compliance has been noticed. Laws don’t change the mindset.
Most of the public centers, parks, toilets, transport systems, traffic lights and parking space are not being designed disabled-friendly. As disability doesn’t see the caste and religion; similarly the facilities at worship places also don’t like to make difference in between non-disabled and disabled. The temples, churches etc have not being designed to welcome disabled. Hyderabad, the one of cosmopolitan city which had been grown a lot in last couple of years in all areas like infrastructure, hospitality, medical and technical areas. But, still if we talk about the major centers like Central, City center shopping malls etc do not even posses a ramp. Moreover, Big bazar and in other bigger centers either lifts are not available or don’t provide the accessibility to all the floors. The elevators are too congested and serve so many people that they are always stuffed and there is a long queue, even for getting chance into the lift. There is no reserved place for the vehicle parking for the disabled. Most of the bus and auto stands do not have a fixed place. The buses do stop some 100 mts away from the stands. It is hard for the disabled person to access the public building as well as public transport. A tourist place Taramati Baradari, which is situated some 50 mts up from the ground and has steep stairs without any railings and supports. There how can one let all the community members to access its beauty. Now it is not just the matter of disabled but it is also hard for pregnant women, patients recovering from ailments, a heart patient, an old man or parents with small children. The parents of the disabled children are equally sufferer as the handicapped children. The roads in the markets and the corridors of the malls and other public buildings are covered by roadside shopkeepers and other stalls that, for wheel chair mobility no space left. Since, there’s no availability of the ramps for the wheel chair so they have to carry their child on themselves. This way, it troubles both the parents as well as child. This is not the matter of state and city. It is the matter of our perception. Sometimes it is hard to bring change in already existing places but atleast we can design the new things, welcoming for everyone. This is not to argue for change for everything but keeping these things in eyes, we can atleast design the new building as user friendly.
The good news is that the Archaeological Survey of India has now made it mandatory to ensure disabled-friendly access at all sites and monuments maintained by it. The Marjala Model - a City for All, the first city of Finland in world which is being design in such a way that it is accessible to all. Here all dwellings, all shared facilities and all connecting routes have been designed so as to allow barrier-free access and mobility, also for the inhabitants with impaired vision, mobility or any other disability. A little modification and sensible approach for the upcoming projects can really make a difference. In this way we achieve the goal of full participation and equality of disabled persons in all aspects of mainstream. The improvements in the creation of barrier free built environment have the potential of providing good education, better job opportunities and better social and cultural integration. Therefore, it is hoped that the future will hold a better deal for Indians with disabilities.
PWD Act 1995 has mentioned a separate chapter VIII for Non-Discrimation. It is clearly mentioned that the Public transport, hospitals, PHC’s, buildings, traffic signals, and railway pavements should be provided with ramps and engraved pavements, and elevators should have auditory signals or Braille signs To ensure that rural infrastructure too becomes disabled friendly, 3% budget under Rural Development schemes has been earmarked by Govt. of India. But the fact remains that most of the States have failed to extract any benefit out of the allocated budget for this purpose leaving Indian villages in a state they were before introduction of schemes. Hence, inspite of various policies, laws, rules and regulations, little compliance has been noticed. Laws don’t change the mindset.
Most of the public centers, parks, toilets, transport systems, traffic lights and parking space are not being designed disabled-friendly. As disability doesn’t see the caste and religion; similarly the facilities at worship places also don’t like to make difference in between non-disabled and disabled. The temples, churches etc have not being designed to welcome disabled. Hyderabad, the one of cosmopolitan city which had been grown a lot in last couple of years in all areas like infrastructure, hospitality, medical and technical areas. But, still if we talk about the major centers like Central, City center shopping malls etc do not even posses a ramp. Moreover, Big bazar and in other bigger centers either lifts are not available or don’t provide the accessibility to all the floors. The elevators are too congested and serve so many people that they are always stuffed and there is a long queue, even for getting chance into the lift. There is no reserved place for the vehicle parking for the disabled. Most of the bus and auto stands do not have a fixed place. The buses do stop some 100 mts away from the stands. It is hard for the disabled person to access the public building as well as public transport. A tourist place Taramati Baradari, which is situated some 50 mts up from the ground and has steep stairs without any railings and supports. There how can one let all the community members to access its beauty. Now it is not just the matter of disabled but it is also hard for pregnant women, patients recovering from ailments, a heart patient, an old man or parents with small children. The parents of the disabled children are equally sufferer as the handicapped children. The roads in the markets and the corridors of the malls and other public buildings are covered by roadside shopkeepers and other stalls that, for wheel chair mobility no space left. Since, there’s no availability of the ramps for the wheel chair so they have to carry their child on themselves. This way, it troubles both the parents as well as child. This is not the matter of state and city. It is the matter of our perception. Sometimes it is hard to bring change in already existing places but atleast we can design the new things, welcoming for everyone. This is not to argue for change for everything but keeping these things in eyes, we can atleast design the new building as user friendly.
The good news is that the Archaeological Survey of India has now made it mandatory to ensure disabled-friendly access at all sites and monuments maintained by it. The Marjala Model - a City for All, the first city of Finland in world which is being design in such a way that it is accessible to all. Here all dwellings, all shared facilities and all connecting routes have been designed so as to allow barrier-free access and mobility, also for the inhabitants with impaired vision, mobility or any other disability. A little modification and sensible approach for the upcoming projects can really make a difference. In this way we achieve the goal of full participation and equality of disabled persons in all aspects of mainstream. The improvements in the creation of barrier free built environment have the potential of providing good education, better job opportunities and better social and cultural integration. Therefore, it is hoped that the future will hold a better deal for Indians with disabilities.
Posted byNeeti at 12:47 AM
Labels: Experiences
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