T
-this is because most of the n g os inbangalore are managed by normal people
.----Original message-----
From: P. Subramani
Sent: 09/08/2014, 12:39 PM
To: George Abraham; 'AccessIndia: a list for discussing accessibility and
issues concerningthe disabled.'
Subject: Re: [AI] BBMP's death trap & blind man walking -Bangalore
Mirrorwith picture
Re: [AI] BBMP's death trap & blind man walking -Bangalore Mirrorwith pictureI
have to be very clear that neverever I accused Enable India, my accusations
were/are in general terms to NGOs. Surely as you say, enable India should have
played a proactive role, I meant only that. There are many NGOs working in the
disabled sector, the path to their premises are totally inaccessible with
potholes, electric poles, drains, etc., on which such NGOs have not cared to
act by taking up with local authorities. When NGOs can organise huge
functions/meetings, there is absolutely no reasons for not acting in this
regard. Praising NGOs for good things is worthwhile, also they have to face the
critics for not acting on many fronts. Those heading NGOs always speak for
the NGOs. ----- Original Message -----
From: George Abraham
To: 'AccessIndia: a list for discussing accessibility and issues
concerningthe disabled.'
Sent: Saturday, August 09, 2014 11:50 AM
Subject: Re: [AI] BBMP's death trap & blind man walking -Bangalore Mirrorwith
picture
Perhaps Enable India could have and should have requested authorities to
cover the drain in front of their office. Having said this, I would
emphatically state that it is wrong for us to accuse Enable India to simply
be interested in taking donations and grants. Do you know the background
and kind of the work Enable India does? It has become extremely fashionable
for people to loosely hurl criticism on NGOs. I would like to state here
that Enable India is responsible for a number of our blind friends today
taking up fairly paying jobs in the Private sector. Their training
programmes are of high quality. They not only have setup skill development
programmes but also are constantly working out work place solutions.
To generate high quality training programmes, you need good quality
professionals and to hire and keep high quality professionals, you need
funds. Enable India is doing good work and need to be appreciated.
Again I say, it is definitely within our rights to point out that Enable
India could and should have played a proactive role in closing the drain
in front of their office but certainly none of us have the right to accuse
them of being being merely donation/grant focused. Let us be mature in our
statements. Access India is a public forum and we must be responsible with
our comments.
-----Original Message-----
From: AccessIndia [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf
Of P. Subramani
Sent: 02 August 2014 13:28
To: Timy Sebastian; AccessIndia: a list for discussing accessibility and
issues concerningthe disabled.
Cc: kfbyouth
Subject: Re: [AI] BBMP's death trap & blind man walking - Bangalore
Mirrorwith picture
[AI] BBMP's death trap & blind man walking - Bangalore Mirrorwith
pictureApart from all these, the Enable India should have contacted BBMP
for closing the manhole. Such associations never take up the
causes/issues of blind, instead, they are interested with donations/govt
grants, surely carelessness on enable India is much more than BBMP.
----- Original Message -----
From: Timy Sebastian
To: AccessIndia: a list for discussing accessibility and issues
concerningthe disabled.
Cc: kfbyouth
Sent: Friday, August 01, 2014 7:16 AM
Subject: [AI] BBMP's death trap & blind man walking - Bangalore
Mirrorwith picture
sourse:
http://www.bangaloremirror.com/bangalore/cover-story/BBMPs-callousness-brok
en-arm-FIR-public-interest-litigation-Timy-Sebastian-drain-medical-transcri
ption-company-EnAble-trust-blind-Jennifer-Pinto-Priya-Pinto-Timy-Sebastian/
articleshow/39373878.cms?prtpage=1
The five-foot deep ditch in front of EnAble India on Sarjapur Road,
Koramangala I block, into which Timy Sebastian fell headlong and broke
his arm
A 31-year-old blind youth was lucky to survive with a broken arm after
falling headlong into a 5-foot deep ditch; now he has taken on BBMP's
callousness with an FIR
Even for a person with 20/20 vision, it is quite a feat to safely
cross the three-foot wide, uncovered shoulder drain just outside the
commercial building that houses EnAble India, a charitable trust for
persons with disability, located on Sarjapura Road in Koramangala I
block near Wipro Junction. Imagine then, the plight of a blind person
who uses a white cane to move around.
Misfortune struck Timy Sebastian, a 31-year-old blind postgraduate
from Kerala, who had come to the city to attend a computer training
programme at EnAble, when he fell inside the five-foot deep drain and
suffered a fractured humerus on the right arm and underwent a surgery.
While EnAble is housed in the second floor, the building is also
occupied by a medical transcription company, Lake System, in the first
floor. Concerned over the difficulties being faced by the visually
impaired people coming to EnAble India, staff at the medical
transcription company had made repeated requests to cover the shoulder
drain which was kept open for almost two months for desilting work.
Had the BBMP not turned a blind eye to the dangers of the uncovered
drain, Timy wouldn't have faced such a near disastrous mishap. And in
a pointer to its callousness, the spot where the mishap occurred is
still lying partially uncovered, even though Timy's visually impaired
friends are still frequenting the EnAble trust.
MISHAP MOCKS AT HC RULING
Timy, a native of Kottayam in Kerala, had come to Koramangala to
attend the training programme two months ago. He was put up at a
paying guest accommodation in the vicinity, which was almost one
kilometre away. Though completely blind, he is independent and uses a
white cane for mobility.
He is also comfortable using public transport as well as other
facilities. On July 25, around 12.30 pm, Timy had finished his class
at the institute and was stepping out to have lunch. Descending from
the steps and stretching his cane out to find his way on the road,
Timy noticed his cane wasn't coming in contact with solid ground. But
alas, it was too late to prevent that fall, said Timy's family members
speaking to BM from Kerala.
He fell headlong into the almost five-foot deep drain and broke his
right arm. Hearing his shouts for help, the owner of a departmental
store on the ground floor of the same building came running out and
rescued Timy. He was rushed to a nearby private hospital where he
underwent surgery and was hospitalised for almost five days. Since he
has been advised bed rest for almost two months, Timy was brought back
home to Kerala. The victim has also filed an FIR against the concerned
BBMP officials with the Koramangala police, the family members added.
The mishap occurred just two days after the High Court of Karnataka
ruled that pavements are the exclusive domain of walkers. The court,
on a public interest litigation (PIL) filed by city activists Jennifer
Pinto and Priya Pinto, had directed the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara
Palike (BBMP) to remove all encroachments on footpaths within the next
three months. Specifically, the court empowered the civic agency to
clear obstructions to make the city pedestrian-friendly. But looks
like instead of clearing obstructions, BBMP seems to be putting them
up, as seen in the unfortunate incident involving Timy.
When contacted, Jennifer told BM, "Timy Sebastian's case indeed
vindicates our stand. In fact the Association for the Visually
Challenged had impleaded in our PIL. I appreciate Sebastian's decision
to file a police complaint as people normally forget and move on. I
think sooner than later the court must make BBMP responsible for such
mishap and improper footpaths across Bangalore."
In another five days, Timy would have completed the training. "He has
already found a job in a software firm for which the training was
mandatory. He would have been placed in any of the firms either in
Kerala or Bangalore from August. But now, we do not know what will
happen. After Timy recovers, he will be sent back to complete the
training. We are hoping that at least by then, the open shoulder drain
will be covered," his family members rued.
"His medical expenses have totaled nearly Rs 1 lakh, which we have had
to bear. We hope this amount will be reimbursed to us since Timy was
an innocent victim," they added.
Sunil, the owner of the departmental store who had rescued Timy, said
that work was going on for the last two months. "There is only one
stone slab to step on between the road and the pavement. Timy's fall
was very scary. Immediately after the incident, the concerned
authorities have partially covered the open drain. Had they done this
immediately after completing their work, Timy would have been fine,"
Sunil said.
Moses, manager, EnAble India, said while there were skids involving
other visually impaired friends of Timy near the drain, none had
experienced a fall like him.
Shino, Timy's cousin who works in Whitefield, and who was with the
latter in the hospital, told BM, "Timy is deeply upset as he is unable
to attend the training which has affected his employment chances ."
The Koramangala police said they are yet to take up the matter for
investigations as they were busy in the bandobast duties for the
bandh.
When contacted, ward No. 151 ( Koramangala) corporator B N Kokila said
silt removal from the drain and tiling of the footpath was taken up
around a month ago, and it has made slow progress. The work is being
financed using the MLA's fund belonging to minister Ramalinga Reddy. I
am not aware of the incident, but I will ask the ward engineer to
speed up the work."
Ward assistant engineer Shivalingappa said, "I am not aware of the
mishap. I had told contractors to take all precautionary measures. I
will personally look into the matter."
FOOTPATH TRAP, A PREQUEL
Bangalore Mirror had recently reported (Pavements are not for
transformers: HC, June 5, 2014) about the family of a deceased
pedestrian moving the High Court against Bescom. The family had blamed
the power company and BBMP for the death of Manoj Patil on May 18,
2013, due to electrical shock from the protective steel fence around a
transformer installed on the footpath near Church Street. Looks like
nothing much has changed for BBMP. Otherwise, Timy Sebastian wouldn't
have had to lodge an FIR against its officials.
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