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.

Posted byNeeti at 12:47 AM 0 comments  

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BEING VOLUNTEER
Wednesday, May 14, 2008


Volunteering literally means, involving people willingly, working without any compensation to achieve a cause. It looks a simple job to be a volunteer but, in reality it is not so. Volunteer does not mean working whatever is asked to you. It needs dedication, understanding and being sensitive to the cause. Volunteering is all about giving – intellectually, physically and emotionally. Volunteering is not to make the seeker dependent on others to spoon feed but it is meant for giving directions and showing the right pathway.

Now a day it is very commonly heard about people doing volunteering services. There are many ways of doing volunteering services including donation for a cause, physical help, helping via your skills like teaching guitar and art and crafts things, giving time and other resources like clothes, books etc. Most of the people feel dissatisfied after donating money as they are not sure where and how their money is being used. But, for the people who are busy and do not have time to give their physical support, for them this is a better option to help. However, the best way of volunteering is serving that involves your interest areas and skills.

Why to be a volunteer??? Most of the people do have reasons for volunteering the services. Reasons vary from internal satisfaction, utilizing the leisure time for a cause, social appreciation or some times even for certificates. Few among of us feel since, we are social animal and live in society; we do share a responsibility towards betterment of community. However, even though there are many reasons behind it but, it demands for other things also.

The feelings during volunteering do contribute a lot to the inner-self. Work done with a noble cause always gets an appreciation. During volunteering, a person tends to learn a lot of things. He learns patience, humanity, self realisation, content, inspiration, task management empathy and acceptance. It is rightly said, no one on this earth is perfect. It is every one’s responsibility to do something for the betterment of society to bring it close to perfect.

There are many things that contribute for the successes of volunteer-ship. The success depends on the motive behind the volunteering. Peer pressure, social appreciation and certificates are the reasons which don’t need commitment as volunteer for a longer period of time. So, there are more chances that the volunteers may not turn up for the next activity.

As earlier stated it is not a simple job. As a person cannot do all types of job, similarly he can’t be good in all different kind of volunteer opportunities. So, before adopting a project for volunteer-ship a person should know about the target population, culture and language of population, kind of volunteering services, sensitivity and time management. The most important is being empathetic. For a day volunteering is different from long term volunteering. Sometimes people get associated with a single kind of volunteer-ship depending on their personal experience or interest, like getting associated with blind schools or orphanages. It is always advisable for the volunteers to be focused and work in a single area so that they can learn a lot for that particular issue and can perform better.

Many a time volunteers become frustrated because of less knowledge about the issue, dedication, limited choices, peer pressure, or expectation of fun. So, the volunteers should prepare themselves prior about the issue and outcome of the services. Later he should sit and assess his volunteering skills and learn from them. He can improve by talking to the professional, acquainting themselves for the knowledge from various resources like internet, professionals and the target population.

Perfect volunteer can bring a difference.

Posted byNeeti at 10:45 PM 2 comments  

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