It seems, the government tom toms efforts of certain state governments/ departments without even verifying from the independent agencies about the authenticity of such claims. The Districts being declared as barrier free are actually full of barriers as I have personally found. Merely making a ramp in front of certain government buildings doesn't make the entire district accessible.
To me, a city or district would not be termed as accessible if - (a) There are no accessible pathways/ pedestrian network with tactile guiding and warning pavers. (b) There are no kerb cuts/ ramps at intersections with audio enabled traffic lights (c) If there are no accessible public transport services with accessible boarding and deboarding system. (d) If all government buildings, schools, panchayats, municipal offices, Bus terminuses, market places, tourist destinations, Heritage sites etc are inaccessible for those with disabilities. (e) If the state has not changed its building bye laws to ensure all future buildings that are to come up will include access & universal design features and be certified so. (f) If all government websites are not fully accessible & compliant to WCAG 20 norms. (g) If there are no sign language interpreters at public places / events and TV programmes are without sub-titles. II feel it is a sham and reducing the credibility of national awards. Please don't consider disabled people as passive recipients of doles and benefits. They too have a say in what is being promoted in the name of making a city accessible to them. Any such district that is proposed for the award, must be access audited by the stakeholders. I am not against the awards to be given for the efforts made by Government agencies but the award should specify that it is being given for making a certain building or service accessible. You can't award a district for being accessible by making some alterations in few government buildings and therefore, it must be reconsidered. We don't want any politics in these award. regards Subhash Chandra Vashishth Advocate On 15 November 2014 19:27, avinash shahi <[email protected]> wrote: > The Government of India has decided to confer Best State Award for > year 2014 for empowerment of disabled to Madhya Pradesh. Can we know > what is the real situation in the state? friends from MP are requested > to share their views. > > The award instituted by Union Ministry of Social Justice and > Empowerment will be conferred by President Pranab Mukherjee at Vigyan > Bhavan, New Delhi, on December 3, 2014. > > The Central Government has also selected Gwalior and Indore districts > for National Awards for 2014 for empowerment of the disabled. > > The Gwalior Collector will be conferred the National Award for > creating best hurdle-free facilities for the disabled persons at > public places. > > The National Award will be given to Indore for rehabilitation of > disabled persons. > > Two persons from Madhya Pradesh have also been selected for the > National Awards as best role model for disabled empowerment works. > They include Dr Rohit Trivedi and Sushri Rabia Khan (both vision > impaired). All these awards will be conferred on December 3 in New > Delhi. > > Planned efforts for rehabilitation and welfare of disabled persons > have been made in Madhya Pradesh on the initiative of Chief Minister > Shivraj Singh Chouhan. The life of the disabled have undergone a > pleasant change as a result of committed efforts by the State > Government and they are continuously moving forward along with all > sections of society. So far, 8.10 lakh disabled persons have been > linked with Sparsh Abhiyan in Madhya Pradesh. > > As many as 1,191 camps have been held for the welfare of the disabled > in the State where certificates have been distributed to 6.46 lakh > disabled persons and artificial limbs and accessories to 68,182 > disabled persons. The life of 3,705 disabled persons have been made > easier through corrective surgeries. > > The benefit of National Indira Gandhi Disabled Pension Scheme is being > given to 1.49 lakh persons in the State and social security pension to > 1.94 lakh disabled persons. Assistance of Rs 500 per month is being > given to 48,744 persons with multiple disability and mentally disabled > ones. Scholarships are being provided to 67,048 disabled students > studying in various institutions. Disabled persons are experiencing > ease following 91,219 public buildings made hurdle-free in the State. > > Marriages of 5,443 disabled persons have been solemnized in the State. > Loan facility of over Rs 72 lakh has been made available to 65 > disabled beneficiaries of the State by the National Disabled Finance > and Development Corporation, Faridabad. > > http://www.dailypioneer.com/state-editions/bhopal/best-state-award-for-empowerment-of-disabled-goes-to-madhya-pradesh.html > > > -- > Avinash Shahi > Doctoral student at Centre for Law and Governance JNU > > Clean India Campaign: Let us also chip in! > > > > Register at the dedicated AccessIndia list for discussing accessibility of > mobile phones / Tabs on: > > http://mail.accessindia.org.in/mailman/listinfo/mobile.accessindia_accessindia.org.in > > > Search for old postings at: > http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/ > > To unsubscribe send a message to > [email protected] > with the subject unsubscribe. > > To change your subscription to digest mode or make any other changes, > please visit the list home page at > http://accessindia.org.in/mailman/listinfo/accessindia_accessindia.org.in > > > Disclaimer: > 1. Contents of the mails, factual, or otherwise, reflect the thinking of > the person sending the mail and AI in no way relates itself to its veracity; > > 2. AI cannot be held liable for any commission/omission based on the mails > sent through this mailing list.. > -- Warm regards, Subhash Chandra Vashishth Mobile: +91 (11) 9811125521 Please don't print this e-mail unless you really need to. Consider environment! Clean India Campaign: Let us also chip in! Register at the dedicated AccessIndia list for discussing accessibility of mobile phones / Tabs on: http://mail.accessindia.org.in/mailman/listinfo/mobile.accessindia_accessindia.org.in Search for old postings at: http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/ To unsubscribe send a message to [email protected] with the subject unsubscribe. To change your subscription to digest mode or make any other changes, please visit the list home page at http://accessindia.org.in/mailman/listinfo/accessindia_accessindia.org.in Disclaimer: 1. Contents of the mails, factual, or otherwise, reflect the thinking of the person sending the mail and AI in no way relates itself to its veracity; 2. AI cannot be held liable for any commission/omission based on the mails sent through this mailing list..
