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Disability News India (DNI)

Disability News India (DNI), is a disability News service dedicated to providing a quality up-to-date information to the Indian Disability. DNI's news section is updated two times a week, though we also add breaking stories as and when they occur.




Disability News India – April 2009 Issue



Visually impaired masseurs of Pune

Pune, April 29: Several visually–impaired girl students in Pune are being given training in basic physio–therapy and massaging techniques to enable them become self–reliant in life.

These enterprising girls despite their visual impairment are being provided opportunities to become professionals in life.

The training is part of a four–year vocational training programme conducted at The Pune School and Home for the Blind aims to enable women self–reliant.

Sandhya Nagarajan, Training Co–ordinator of the course said that the girls are being trained in all the aspects of the body massage and related intricacies.

"These girls have been trained in how to approach the plank, how tod rape the clients, how to make them sleep and make them sit. Besides being trained in these small things, they have been trained in how to massage and which massage for which body part," said Sandhya Nagarajan, Co–ordinator (Training), Pune School and Home for the Blind.

The school is partly funded by the state government and the innovative course for the visually–impaired girls mooted by it is a step towards their empowerment.

Meanwhile, students are delighted to have got an opportunity to get such a training to become self–reliant in life.

"This is my first year in the vocational training centre and I'm fortunate that I have got admission here and I feel very fortunate," said Mehafaz, a visually impaired student in massage therapy, Pune School and Home for the Blind.

A batch of 150 girls is being trained in body massaging techniques at present.

The first batch of the course will pass out just prior to the May Day and most of them have already got many job offers.

Lady clients, having already availed the healing touch of these girls during their in–house training sessions, also have also appreciated and come forth on an encouraging note to take their services periodically.

Source: http://www.thaindian.com

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Mizoram: An inconvenience for persons with disabilities

Aizawl, April 28: In contrast to the hot and humid climate of the Indian plains, Mizoram is a beautiful hilly region, a terrain so characteristically steep and green that one cannot help but admire. But, for a person with disabilities, particularly wheelchair–bound persons, inconvenience outweighs the admiration.

"The challenges of making Mizoram a barrier free environment are paramount and manifold due to the topography of the region," said Liansangzuala, a young Mizoram Judicial Service officer who himself is a physically disabled person. He was one of the resource persons at a colloquium on 'Making Mizoram a barrier free state for persons with disabilities' organised by New Delhi–based Mission Maveen in association with the state social welfare department here today.

In addition to the topographical difficulty, there is complete absence of disabled–friendly environment as "not even one per cent of the government offices, schools, colleges, churches and community halls in Mizoram are barrier–free for wheelchair user," according to Liansangzuala. Despite that the state government adopted the 'Person with Disabilities (Equal Opportunities, Protection of Rights and Full Participation) Rules in 1999, little has been done to make the state a barrier free environment for people confined to the wheelchairs.

As on October, 2007, the state public works department has constructed entrance ramps and a few handicap toilets at eight government buildings mostly hospitals. The Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan has also constructed 850 ramps and 1127 barrier–free toilets in schools, official reports said today. However, even in the national capital Delhi, a total barrier–free environment for disabled persons is still a far cry, lamented Liansangzuala.

"Even the country's capital is not equipped to provide a better life for the disabled," he said, adding, "lack of political will is the prime reason why the Indian government has failed to created a disabled–friendly environment." Significantly, the Aizawl Development Authority Building Regulations 2008 makes it mandatory to make provision for a barrier free environment in public buildings.

Even if all the public buildings are made accessible with wheelchairs, the question is 'How does a disabled person make it to the buildings?' "There is topographical difficulty to overcome first, the fact that our state capital is not an architecturally planned city makes matter worse. Only a few houses in Aizawl are accessible with vehicles. But with an architectural planning, more than half of the problems could be solved," observed senior architecture George Lalzuia.

Source: http://www.morungexpress.com

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Himachal school Board to provide free text books in Braille

Shimla: Himachal Pradesh Board of School Education has decided to provide free text books in Braille to all visually impaired students in the state. This was disclosed by Prof. CL Gupta, chairman of the Board while presiding over a seminar on "Rights of Disabled people: Role of Society", organized by Shimla Study Circle of Panchnad Research Institute in Himachal Pradesh University. Journalist–turned professor and prominent disability rights activist Ajai Srivastava was the main speaker on this occasion.

Prof. CL Gupta said the Education Board was determined to extend equal opportunity to all students with disabilities in the state as per the provisions of Persons with Disabilities Act, 1995. According to him, "We have extended some special concessions to the students with mental retardation to promote liking for education among them. Earlier these concessions were available to deaf and blind students only." He said last year the Education Board had increased extra time from half an hour to one hour in examination for the blind and other disabled students who use scribe, after Society for Disability and Rehabilitation Studies, Himachal Pradesh had raised a demand in this regard.

He said when it came to his notice that there was no system to provide text books in Braille to the blind students, he immediately took this matter with the concerned agencies. And finally it was finally decided to supply free Braille text books of all subjects to the students with visual impairment. The noted academician appreciated the efforts being made by Ajai Srivastava to strengthen disability rights movement in this hill state and said he has set a good example of activism.

Ajai Srivastava, chairman, Society for Disability and Rehabilitation Studies, Himachal Pradesh, in his lecture gave details of statutory provisions for the protection of rights of persons with disabilities. He, citing his own example, said when without having any formal education in social work, human rights or disability he could start a movement in Himachal Pradesh for the protection of rights of persons with disabilities, everybody in the society can do this.

He appealed the professors, research scholars and other students present in the seminar to come forward with a changed mindset that the disabled need parity, not charity. He said it was necessary to adopt rights based approach in place of charity based one when we think about disability or the disabled. According to him, sensitization in this regard in every section of society was necessary and small programmes, lectures and use of print and electronic media can play a vital role in propagating the right message.

RM Sharma, Superintendent of Police, Shimla, who was the guest of honour in the programme, said in most of the cases when there was violation of rights of any vulnerable section including the disabled; the intellectuals in the society remain mum. It is dangerous for the society. An interesting question– answer session was also held.

Earlier, Dr. Kul Bhushan Chandel, president of Shimla Study Circle of Panchnad Research Institute, gave an account of activities being carried out by the organization. D. Arun Kumar Singh proposed vote of thanks. A large number of professors, research schools and other students from different departments participated in the programme.

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com

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Mother's role vital for hearing–impaired kids

PUNE: Children with hearing impairment need early identification and intervention for proper rehabilitation, which can be done best by the mother by becoming a link between rehabilitation professionals and the child, an audiology expert said on Sunday.

"Hearing is prerequisite for a child's speech language development. This could be severely hampered in the absence of hearing ability. Here mothers can play a very important role. Mother spends the most time with the child. Hence she can identify the disability in the child and approach professionals like ENT specialist or pediatrician for help," Reader and Head, Department of Audiology, Ali Yavar Jung National Institute for the Hearing Handicapped, Rajeev R Jalvi told Sakal Times.

The national institute is an autonomous institute under the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Government of India, based in Mumbai. Jalvi was in the city to attend a programme on hearing disability organised by city–based NGO Cochlea Pune.

"As soon as the disability is detected, the child should be given a hearing aid. Then pictorial depiction of everyday activities and their physical imitation is the best way to teach the child. For example, regarding brushing teeth, mother should give a running commentary of the activity involving in the brushing activity explaining each action in detail and imitate it before the child. Then get the child repeat the process with her," Jalvi said.

Similarly for animal or bird sounds, she should show pictures of the animal or bird or a film based on animals. Show the association between object and the sound by showing it and pronounce the sound, he said.

"It is the birthright of every child to get a hearing aid by six months of age. Parents should ensure that by the first birthday, the child is able to pronounce at least 10 to 15 words," he said, adding the mother should also involve other family members in the rehabilitation process.

According to the National Sample Survey Organisation (NSSO) survey of disabled people in 2002, three million children were found hearing impaired between 0 to 4 years.

"This is a very high number. It signifies that society is not serious in finding a solution. There are 70 affected children born everyday in a district with 25 lakh population. There is 70 to 80 per cent delay in intervention due to lack of awareness and resources," the expert said.

Source: http://www.sakaaltimes.com

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Soon a postal stamp that showcases art by 14–year–old hearing impaired

Mumbai: Akshata Chawan (14), a congenitally deaf resident of the Nirmal Nagar slums in Khar, has an extremely vibrant emotional quotient. She has found a colourful way of expressing it, literally through drawings and paintings.

On Saturday, Akshata received her life's first national level award ? a cash prize of Rs 6,000, for bagging the second prize in a drawing competition organised by the General Post Office. Her drawing depicting a birthday party – of a little girl cutting a cake, flanked by her mother, father and friends – will soon be released across the country as a postal stamp. The competition was held in January and Akshata was one among the 80–90 particiapnts.

The teenager is exuberant. "I'm very happy and proud to receive this honour," she said. "It makes me proud to know that all the Indians will now recognise me after the release of the postal stamp that has my drawing."

Akshata's father Rajaram Chawan, a sales person at a local aquarium, said that his daughter always had a penchant for art. "She loved drawing and her school has been very proactive in tapping her talent," he said. Akshata is in class IV of the Central School for the deaf, Agripada. Today, she can hear and communicate perfectly with the help of a hearing aid. Chawan said the school taught its students several crafts like drawing, knitting etc.

"It was only when she turned six, we learnt about her hearing impairment. Till then, she went to a normal school but there too, she loved drawing and making mehandi designs. Her handwriting is also good, " Chawan said.

Akshata, the only daughter of Chawan, lost her mother four years ago. Her father, who makes a meagre salary of a few thousands as a salesman, says he has lofty dreams for her. "I want to enroll her in an art school after she finishes school. I'm apprehensive if I'll have financial capacity to do that. However, she is very bright and I believe that she will find a way to fly high," he said.

Chawan thanks Akshata's teacher Shobatai Nakhare, a specialised teacher working with deaf children, for taking notice of Akshata's talent and moulding it.

Source: http://www.expressindia.com

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Visually impaired say they are denied ATM cards by banks

CHENNAI, 27 Apr: Visually–impaired are up in arms against several nationalised banks saying they are being denied the use of automated teller machines (ATMS).

Talking to TOI on the sidelines of the 28th anniversary day celebrations of the College Students and Graduates Association of the Blind, president P Ponmudi said: "A lot of people with visual disabilities live in rural areas where they have to travel long distances to reach a bank. Many nationalised banks say they cannot issue ATM cards to us because our signatures aren't always uniform. But where there is so much technological advancement why shouldn't banks come up with things like electronic signatures."

He says some bank managers are understanding enough but some make no allowances. "The Persons With Disability Act 1995 says no person should be discriminated against on the basis of his or her disability," said Ponmudi.

Members of the association also gave other instances when the PWD Act has not been taken seriously by authorities.

Another demand of the association is that railway authorities ensure that the location of the unreserved carriage for persons with disabilities is fixed. Many times we run from one end of the train to the other in search of these carriages. Sometimes they are secured to the train's engine and sometime to the guard's carriage. "At some stations the authorities ensure this does not happen, but in many places this is the reality. By the time we find the right carriage those without disabilities have already occupied our seats and are reluctant to hand them over to us," Ponmudi said.

The association called for the filling up of 1% of the 7,300 graduate teachers posts in government schools announced by the government three months ago. They wanted the remaining 18 of 200 posts in government jobs announced by the chief minister in 2007 for qualified people with visual disabilities in a special recruitment drive to be filled.

"The authorities concerned do not act immediately on any concession that the government announces for us. We have to fight for everything," said Ponmudi.

Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com

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HC orders appointment of physically disabled person as conductor

Chennai, 26 Apr: The Madras High Court has agreed with a physically disabled person, possessing a valid conductors licence, that he cannot be denied employment in the State Transport Corporation on the ground of physical disability. Even after 14 years of the advent of the Persons with Disabilities(Equal Opportunities, Protection of Rights and Full Participation) Act, the State Government had not identified conductors post for the purpose of this legislation. It needs immediate attention of the Government, Justice S.Nagamuthu said in his order.

D Pushparaj is physically disabled person with 60 per cent disability and possesses a conductor''s licence. He registered himself in the local employment exchange. Following a notification by the Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation's Villupuram Division, his name was sponsored for the conductor post along with several other candidates. The corporation did not send him a call letter. On enquiry, he was informed that since he was physically disabled person, he could not be given employment as conductor.

The transport corporation said the petitioner was rejected as per the corporations rule, which stated that a candidate should be free from physical deformity. A conductor's job involved frequent movement inside the bus and outside and this could not be done by the petitioner.

Allowing Mr Pushparaj's petition, Mr Justice Nagamuthu said from the Motor Vehicles Act, it could be understood that whether a person was qualified to possess a conductor's licence or not was a matter to be decided only by the competent authority. Once it had issued a licence on being satisfied that the deformity would not deter the person from working as a conductor, it could not be stated that by any other authority that he was not entitled to be appointed as a conductor on the ground he was physically unfit. Since the petitioner's physical fitness was seriously disputed by the corporation, Mr Justice Nagamuthu directed Mr Pushparaj to be present in the court. He did so. The Judge said he was able to see that the petitioner, barring a minor limp, could walk freely and steadily. "In the opinion of the court, the petitioner can very effectively discharge the functions of a conductor as is done by any other conductor with no physical deformity." It could not be blindly construed that any form of physical disability would be a disqualification for being appointed conductor.

"Such an interpretation, in my considered opinion, will surely cause violence to the right of equality guaranteed under Article 14 of the Constitution." The term "physical disability," as stated in the rule, should receive contextual interpretation. Mr Justice Nagamuthu said though the petitioner's prayer was to consider him under the quota for persons with disability, in his considered opinion, even by putting him in the general quota, he was eligible for being appointed. He directed the respondent to issue appointment order to the petitioner within two months.

Source: http://www.mynews.in

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No provisions for people with disabilities in polling booths, reveals survey

Guwahati, April 25: The disability law unit (Northeast) of Shishu Sarothi, an NGO, has decided to file a case in Gauhati High Court against the chief electoral officer of Assam and deputy commissioners for their failure to make polling booths disabled–friendly during the Lok Sabha polls.

Anju Talukdar, the project co–ordinator of the NGO, told the media here today that in spite of the order issued by the Supreme Court in 2004 to make polling stations disabled–friendly across the country, nothing significant has been done in Assam.

She said the unit had written to the chief electoral officer, Assam and all deputy commissioners last month to provide all necessary facilities for disabled voters in the election.

"Members of the disability law unit visited several polling booths in the Brahmaputra and Barak Valleys both in the first and final phases of the election. The survey found that only a very few polling booths had facilities for disabled voters. In the April 23 polls in Guwahati, we had surveyed 40 polling booths to find that only three of them had wooden ramps," Talukdar said.

According to a writ petition filed by the Disabled Rights Group, headed by disabled activist Javed Abidi, the Supreme Court had ordered all state governments to ensure that wooden ramps were provided at polling stations for disabled voters at least in cities and urban areas. The order was passed on April 16, 2004.

The disability law unit particularly recommended the use of wooden ramps, hand railings, Braille symbols on EVMs and separate queues for disabled people in all the polling booths to help them vote without being inconvenienced.

Talukdar said barring wooden ramps at a very few polling stations, the poll officials in Assam did not bother to create any other facility for the disabled.

"We are not going to remain silent and have thus decided to approach the Gauhati High Court to file a litigation against the chief electoral officer and deputy commissioners who were the returning officers in the poll. We will plead with the high court to instruct the state election commission to find out a mechanism to make the polling booths disabled–friendly in Lok Sabha as well as Assembly polls," Talukdar said.

Source: http://www.telegraphindia.com

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Stephen Hawking expected to recover

CAMBRIDGE, England – British physicist Stephen Hawking is expected to fully recover from a chest infection, doctors at Cambridge University said April 21.

The 67–year–old scientist, who is wheelchair–bound and speaks with a voice synthesizer, was taken to Addenbrooke's Hospital in Cambridge for tests April 20 after an infection worsened.

A university spokesman said Hawking remained hospitalized but was "in a comfortable condition and is expected to make a full recovery," The Times of London reported.

Hawking, best–known as the author of "A Brief History of Time," is acknowledged one of the world's foremost experts on the origins of the universe, black holes and gravity. He is also well–known for his use of a voice synthesizer, made necessary by his affliction with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, a motor neurone disease.

Source: http://www.upi.com

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Adam Gilchrist bats for modified bikes for children with disabilities

Cape Town: Deccan Chargers captain Adam Gilchrist will be hoping that he can get a start to his mission at the Sahara Newlands Stadium on Wednesday to hit 25 sixes in the Indian Premier League (IPL) to help fund 25 modified bikes for children with disabilities.

Gilchrist, who failed to hit a six against Kolkata Night Riders on Sunday though his team registered their first win of the tournament, will try to do better against Bangalore Royal Challengers in the eighth game of the series which is being played out across South Africa.

Each time Gilchrist hits a six, a child with disabilities in his native Australia will receive the gift of wheels with a modified bike through Amway's Freedom Wheels programme, which Amway runs in partnership with the Technical Aid to the Disabled (TAD).

Every bike is modified to suit the individual child. This allows children with disabilities to enjoy riding a bike – often for the first time in their lives.

"As a father of three kids, I know how much fun riding a bike can be for a child. Now, every six I hit means a smile on a child's face," Gilchrist said, adding that he had been training hard to clear the boundary as often as he could.

Gilchrist described his opening game in IPL 2009 as having left him a little nervous as he had not played any competitive cricket in the last 12 months.

"It was bit like my under–14 days where when you have an off–season you go and play a winter sport and pick the bat up again once the sun is out.

"I could not have hoped for a better start here. It was a thoroughly professional show and every member of the team played his part to perfection," Gilchrist said in a message on the Deccan Chargers website.

While South African players and administrators have said that the IPL 2009 is a learning ground for young Indian players, Gilchrist noted that cricketers from other countries had a lot to learn from the Indian stars as well.

Source: http://www.hindu.com

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Famed British Physicist Stephen Hawking hospitalised

Stephen Hawking
London, 20 Apr: Stephen Hawking, the British mathematician and physicist famed for his work on black holes, was rushed to a hospital Monday and was seriously ill, Cambridge University said. Hawking has been fighting a chest infection for several weeks and was being treated at Addenbrooke's Hospital in Cambridge, the university city northeast of London, the university said.

"Professor Hawking is very ill," said Gregory Hayman, the university's head of communications. "He is undergoing tests. He has been unwell for a couple of weeks."

Later in the afternoon, Hayman said Hawking was "now comfortable but will be kept in hospital overnight."

The illness had caused Hawking to cancel an appearance at Arizona State University on April 6.

Hawking, 67, gained renown for his work on black holes, and has remained active despite being diagnosed at 21 with ALS, (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis), an incurable degenerative disorder also known as Lou Gehrig's disease.

For some years, Hawking has been almost entirely paralyzed, and he communicates through an electronic voice synthesizer activated by his fingers.

Hawking was involved in the search for the great goal of physics ? a "unified theory" ? which would resolve contradictions between Albert Einstein's General Theory of Relativity, which describes the laws of gravity that govern the motion of large objects like planets, and the Theory of Quantum Mechanics, which deals with the world of subatomic particles.

"A complete, consistent unified theory is only the first step: our goal is a complete understanding of the events around us, and of our own existence," he wrote in his best–selling book, "A Brief History of Time," published in 1988.

In a more accessible sequel "The Universe in a Nutshell," published in 2001, Hawking ventured into concepts like supergravity, naked singularities and the possibility of a universe with 11 dimensions.

He announced last year that he would step down from his post as Lucasian Professor of Mathematics, a title once held by the great 18th–century physicist Isaac Newton. However, the university said Hawking intended to continue working as Emeritus Lucasian Professor of Mathematics.

"Professor Hawking is a remarkable colleague. We all hope he will be amongst us again soon," said Peter Haynes, head of the university's Department of Applied Mathematics and Theoretical Physics.

Brian Dickie, director of research at the Motor Neurone Disease Association, said only 5 percent of people diagnosed with ALS survive for 10 years or longer.

Source: http://www.sfgate.com/

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Delhi High Court asks banks to open accounts for intellectual disabled kids

NEW DELHI, 20 Apr: Families of mentally disabled persons can now hope for better access at banks for their wards. The Delhi High Court has directed the Reserve Bank of India to ask all banks in India to accept guardianship certificate issued under the Mental Disability Act for opening of a joint account.

RBI has been asked to issue appropriate guidelines to banks countrywide. The ready acceptance guardianship certificates are issued under the 10–year–old Mental Disabilities Act.

The 1999 law was primarily aimed to facilitate parents and kin of mentally disabled children to prove their legal guardianship. It allowed the setting up of local level committees under the local district magistrates to hear petitions seeking appointment as legal guardians.

The court was hearing a writ petition filed by Sushma Sharma, who had approached the State Bank of India to open an account with her mentally disabled son, Kuldeep, in 2007.

Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com

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Free education for visually impaired at Panjab University

CHANDIGARH, 19 Apr: In a special initiative for visually–impaired students, Panjab University Syndicate on Saturday gave a green signal to provide them with free education on the campus. The students would also be extended free hostel accommodation.

The syndicate also passed a proposal for increasing the number of seats for off–campus MBA courses from 400 to 500 from next academic session.

Keeping student interest in mind, an additional parking next to Students Centre has been okayed.

However, there were many agenda items that have been deferred. The proposal of declaring nine affiliated colleges in Punjab as defaulters for not depositing endowment funds was extended. The proposal to change the name of department of English to department of English and cultural studies would also be taken up in future. Besides these, the decision to roll back the fee hike of NRI students has also been deferred.

It had been decided that the vice–chancellor would look into the recommendations of Board of Control of MA in police administration to introduce an MPhil course in the said subject from next academic session. The proposed course would have 10 seats.

According to sources, it was unanimously declared during zero–hour discussion that all Senate members were equal irrespective of their constituencies and qualifications. The discussion gained importance in view of news reports published in a section of media, alleging that some incompetent persons were part of committees to select college principals. It was reportedly decided that senators could go as VC–nominee, as had been done till now.

Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com

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Disabled teacher moves court for civic amenities

Mumbai, 19 Apr: Constant load–shedding and irregular functioning of amenities in a CIDCO–constructed building has forced a permanently disabled woman to move the Bombay High Court after failing to get any relief from the authorities concerned.

For Vijaya Kalan, whose one half of the body is paralysed due to a permanent disability known as Hemiplegia, life is a struggle to get to her seventh floor apartment, as the elevators do not function most of the times due to shortage and irregular supply of electricity in the area. Kalan, who teaches at a BMC–run school, also suffers from cardiac problems, due to which she is facing tremendous difficulties while climbing and alighting the staircase.

Kalan had purchased the flat in July 2004, after requesting CIDCO to consider allotting a flat to her on sympathetic grounds. As she was in need of immediate residential premises, she bought the last vacant flat measuring 700 square feet on the seventh floor of Parijat Co–operative Housing Society in Kharghar, Navi Mumbai. Kalan, along with her husband, had pointed out these difficulties to the society members in April 2005, when it was decided that the generator would be replenished with diesel and operated at the earliest. "However, that still remains to be done," petition states. Kalan then approached the Managing Director of CIDCO to sort the issue.

Source: http://www.indianexpress.com

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'ICT, a powerful tool for empowering disabled people'

ALLAHABAD, 15 Apr: Information Communication Technology is set to play a crucial role in empowering the visually impaired persons, said Dr MD Tiwari, Director, Indian Institute of Information Technology, Allahabad while inaugurating the two–day international seminar at Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Information Technology, Amethi on Wednesday.

Speaking on the topic Empowering Visually Impaired through Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Tiwari said that ICT was a powerful tool for empowering disabled people. The focus of this seminar was on employment of ICT solutions in four areas that would make significant contribution in improving the quality of lives of visually impaired individuals.

"The experts would deliberate on how to use ICT tools in prevention, timely identification and intervention of visual impairment, discuss about ICT solutions that would empower visually impaired to access information in the digital world, deliberate on the emerging trends in adaptive technologies and discuss how ICT could be used to deal with the social issues would be the four major areas," added Tiwari.

SN Jha, retired IAS officer said the cause of disabled should be taken from village level to district level. There were no dearth of funds in order to strengthen the position of disabled persons in the country.

In his address, TV Raman, research scientist, Google said that creating web applications was very helpful for visually impaired. He threw light on access to information by visually impaired persons. He replied a volley of questions asked by participants.

AK Mittal, president All India Confederation of the Blind pointed out easy access to training essential like new scheme of inclusive education provides for computer training for visually impaired children in regular schools classes IX–XII, community model by establishing facilities in existing computer training centres for the visually impaired, appointment of a special trainer, provision of access softwares, residents facilities for visually impaired learners etc.

Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com

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Bangalore University reaches out to train people with disabilities

BANGALORE, 16 Apr: Bangalore University (BU) on Wednesday signed an MoU with the Rehabilitation Council of India (RCI) to promote and implement training and education programmes of special target groups of people with disabilities.

The programmes will have several provisions to achieve the designed goals. The psychology department will be the nodal department for conducting training programmes in collaboration with the directorate of correspondence courses and distance education, and with technical support of the CBR network.

Further, BU will design and develop community–based rehabilitation training programmes through distance mode (using computer, internet, print, etc). The university will facilitate delivery certification of such programmes in technical cooperation with the CBR network.

The RCI recognizes CBR training and other programmes, including updates. The council will provide its study centres to BU and the university will also set up its own study centres in consultation with RCI for CBR training programmes, if necessary.

Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com

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Shafaqat School holds medical camp for disabled children

Srinagar, April 15: Shafaqat Special School for Children with Multiple Disabilities Wednesday held a one day medical camp for disabled children.

During the function, President SSSCMD, Dr Mir Mohammed Maqbool urged parents and guardians of the children afflicted with different types of disabilities, to be serious and forthcoming for their rehabilitation.

Mir who is also ENT specialist asked participants to take speedy, in–time, serious and concerted efforts to rehabilitate children with various disabilities. He stressed early intervention of the disability which would help these children to live maximum possible independent life and mitigate their miseries. He was speaking during one day seminar "Awareness Cum Rehabilitation Camp for Disabled Children Under 16", organized in collaboration with Ikhlas Welfare Society, at Govt Girls Higher Secondary Institute, Tral.

Earlier, Chairman IWS and chief coordinator Cancer Society of Kashmir, Dr Nisar Ahmad Bhat Trali threw light on various causes of physical, mental and psychological disabilities among children.

He informed that out of 300 million disabled in the world, one hundred million belong to India alone. "Six crore are mentally retarded, four crore are afflicted with epilepsy, 1.65 crore suffer from cretinism and 4.48 crores have blindness globally." Trali regretted that State or provincial level surveys have not been conducted so far.

Principal Shafaqat Special School Dr Bashir Ahmad urged parents of disabled children to work with resilience and consistency towards rehabilitation of these children with special needs.

Over hundred children from different parts including upper reaches of Tral were checked up, screened by the team of experts and provided medical aid. Several children were referred to Shafaqat Special School for further treatment and rehabilitation programme.

Deaf and speech disability, mental retardation, physical disability, ENT and other related disabilities were covered during the camp. The hearing aid, medicine, tricycle and information material was also distributed among the participants of the camp.

Source: http://www.risingkashmir.com

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Ballot by braille in polling booths in Bhopal

Bhopal, April 15: Elections in India are all about inclusion, the right to vote for all citizens of a certain age.

And this means that people with disabilities, including those who are visually impaired cannot be left out.

A training session in Bhopal has a huge turnout. And why not? For the first time ever, our polling booths will have ballot papers in Braille.

Voters are being trained in advance, so that on the D–Day they need no assistance.

Says visually impaired voter Nitin Kumar Sarathe: "We can finally exercise our right. Earlier we had to depend on others. 'Earlier we were dependent on the Election officer. It is possible they never cast the vote we asked them to.''

Election Commission has recommended all districts to introduce Braille enabled voting in at least 10 polling booths in urban areas.

Bhopal is one of the rare cities where all 1,150 polling booths in the urban areas are Braille–enable.

Shiv Shekhar, the Collector of Bhopal, says: ''To bring them into the mainstream district administration has decided to go for Braille balloting in every poll station of the urban areas.''

This small step by the Election Commission is a giant leap for the rights of disabled people.

Source: http://www.ndtv.com

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Ensure rights of People with Disabilities says Orissa Governor

Bhubaneswar , April 13: Governor M C Bhandare on Sunday inaugurated a seminar on 'Legal Enactment and Social Inclusion of Persons with Disability' here.

Addressing the seminar, he said that since everyone has the right to live in dignity, efforts should be made to ensure that the rights of the disabled people should not be violated.Citing his experience of fighting a case in the SC against the direction of the UGC that no visually impaired person can become a lecturer, he said the case was subsequently won after which, such persons can now become lecturers.He distributed harmoniums, sewing machines and cycles among disabled people. Among others, Director, State Social Welfare Director Usha Padhee, VRCH Rehabilitation Officer RK Sharma and Lion's Club Members Minati Behera, Sudha Khandelwal, Gopinath Mohanty, Jatindra Nayak and Ruchi Ahuyan also spoke.

Source: http://www.orissadiary.com

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NTPC Foundation adopts DDRC

TANDA, 11 Apr: NTPC (National Thermal Power Corporation)@Foundation has adopted the District Disability Rehabilitation Centre (DDRC) situated in the township area of NTPC Tanda. DDRC is the brainchild of NTPC Tanda and National Institute of Orthopaedically Handicapped (NIOH), Kolkata. Since 2004 DDRC is providing free counselling, physiotherapy, medicines, health camps and aids like wheel chairs, tricycle, hearing aids etc to physically challenged people of nearby villages. Adoption of DDRC by NTPC Foundation will not only take these activities to larger scale and far flung areas of the region but will also create livelihood opportunities for the physically challenged.

Letter of MoUs were exchanged between the heads of three collaborative partners NTPC Tanda, NIOH and NTPC Foundation for the smooth functioning of NFNDRC. DDRC, which was established under the guidance of Indu Bhushan Pandey (regional executive director–North) now will be named NTPC Foundation NIOH Disability Rehabilitation Centre (NFNDRC) and will add a new chapter in the area of rehabilitating physically challenged people of the region.

NTPC Foundation has undertaken schemes to provide sustainable self–employment opportunities and vocational skills (if required) for the physically challenged in the category of visually challenged and hearing impaired persons. NTPC Foundation extends support in the technical, marketing and human resources field to groups on the basis of agreement.

Speaking in the adoption programme ceremony RC Srivastava (director HR), NTPC Limited said, "NTPC Limited is continuously working towards the welfare of society and the newly found NFNDRC is a step forward towards our commitment to the society." The adoption programme ceremony also witnessed distribution of tricycles and hearing aids to disabled people by visiting dignitaries.

Ratnesh Kumar, director NIOH along with Dinesh Agrawal (CSR), SP Singh (NRHQ) and DC Sinha (NTPC Foundation) also graced the occasion. Later in the evening long service award ceremony was held at NTPC Tanda in order to present and recognise long and fruitful association of decades of service of its employees. The awards were given by chief guest RC Shrivastav (director HR NTPC limited). Speaking on the occasion IB Pandey (RED–North) said that the credit of continuous progress of Tanda not only went to its hardworking employees but also to their family members. Addressing the audience RC Shrivastav said that meeting every challenge had become a part of the NTPC culture and seeing opportunities in challenges was the key to success. Later Jay Narayan Singh (GM NTPC Tanda) thanked RC Shrivastav and IB Pandey for taking out their valuable time to grace the ceremony. The ceremony ended with a grand cultural programme presented by school children of township situated Bal Bharti Public School.

Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com

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Standard Chartered Bank organises visually impaired motor rally

New Delhi, Apr 9: The Standard Chartered Bank on Thursday organised a motor rally under the caption 'Seeing Is Believing' for visually impaired people.

The intended purpose of the rally was to make the visually impaired feel included.

During the rally, each visually impaired participant or navigator was paired with a driver. Each navigator was given a map with clear instructions on time, distance, and landmarks in braille.

"Today the visually impaired boys and girls are sitting in the car and navigating. They are responsible for the car to move. I think it is fantastic. The main thing is that they are trying to equalize people. They are trying to remove the sense of superior and inferior," said Bollywood actor Rahul Bose, who was present at the rally.

The visually impaired participants were enthusiastic during the rally.

"Being visually impaired, I cannot drive. But if there is ever a car for the visually impaired, I would love to drive it," said Manoj, a participant.

The 'Seeing Is Believing' campaign will set up 40 vision centres across six states for providing primary eye care services to half a million poor.

The Standard Chartered Bank launched the programme in 2003, as a major global community initiative.

Close to half of the world's visually impaired live in India (nine million), Africa (seven million) and China (six million). There are 153 million people who require reading glasses but have no access to them.

According to Standard Chartered Bank assumptions, close to half a million people in India are expected to receive help from the project. (ANI)

Source: http://www.thaindian.com

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NGOs cite Supreme Court order for disabled voters

KOLKATA, April 9: Members of some city–based NGOs working to uphold the rights of people with physical disability today urged the election commission to implement the Supreme Court (SC) order instructing them to take steps to help disabled persons exercise their franchise with dignity and secrecy.

They alleged that till today the commission is unable to provide suitable arrangements for the disabled and it will be difficult for them to go upstairs by using temporary ramps that will be set up in the polling booths.

A member of a city–based NGO said they had written a letter to the chief secretary as well as the joint chief electoral officer, Mr NK Sahana, who had assured them that except for 150 booths in the state, disabled people can exercise their franchise on the ground floor of the polling booth.

They also said that in case a polling booth on a top floor can't be avoided there should be a provision of carrying the disabled persons by a wheelchair and not stretchers.

Moreover, there is a need for Braille stickers to be pasted on Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) for the physically disabled persons and EVMs should be kept on a 3–ft high table to make it easy for the voter.

Ms Kukhu Das, member of the Disability Activists Forum, said very often little concern was shown to a visually handicapped voter at the booth. As little secrecy is maintained in such cases, the need of the hour is to appoint a monitoring agency to look into ways to ensure secret voting.

Source: http://www.thestatesman.net

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People with disabilities seek a voice in Delhi

MUMBAI, 9 Apr: This election season, persons with disabilities and their families are making sure political parties hear them out. Calling themselves `Disabled People Vote', they intend to create a votebank strong enough to ensure that disability issues are addressed in the new government's Common Minimum Programme.

On Tuesday, Mithu Alur, founder of ADAPT (formerly The Spastics Society of India), presented a political charter asking for civil rights for disabled people. "Nearly 100 million disabled people are refused the rights to education, employment and health as they are excluded from the government's existing programmes,'' said Alur, who is organising a solidarity march on April 9 at 4 pm from Hutatma Chowk to Mahatma Gandhi Udyan, opposite Mantralaya.

The three–point charter asks for a national disability advisor to the Prime Minister who can monitor the implementation of programmes for disabled people. It also seeks to get MPs to allocate 10% of their budgets for disability issues and to be heard in parliament.

Activists feel that the one–sentence mentions for disabled rights in party manifestos are a step in the right direction. "The right to education is mere rhetoric if it cannot be implemented.

A school without a ramp or the lack of text books in Braille take this right away,'' explains disabled rights activist Sumita Sen.

Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com

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US shot Bengali film to create awareness about India's disabled people

Washington: "Piyalir Password," the first Bengali film shot entirely in the United States, is all set to be screened in seven US cities to create awareness about the plight of individuals with developmental disabilities in India.

The film which premiered at the Kreeger Auditorium in Maryland, on the outskirts of the capital, last week will be screened in New Jersey on April 11 and in Detroit, San Francisco, Houston, Boston and Chicago thereafter.

"Through this wonderful film we were trying to create awareness among the Bengali community living here in the US," said the organisers, Centre for Social Change, a non–profit organization serving individuals with Developmental Disabilities.

The Centre for Social Change has been serving individuals with Developmental Disabilities for the last 15 years with its India projects started in 2002 with established centres in Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka and Kerala.

The 105–minute film scripted by Raj Basu and Soumitra Neogi is a fast–paced suspense thriller set in Maryland, USA where a young woman comes from India to complete the legal formalities of her scientist sister's accidental death.

However, as she tries to wrap things up, to her horror she discovers that perhaps her sister's death was not accidental. Caught in a web of conspiracy in a foreign land she struggles to get behind the truth, determined to unravel the mystery behind her sister's untimely death.

The film about corporate conspiracy and medical ethics in the US biotechnology industry has an international cast of actors from India, USA, South Africa, Russia and other nations.

Directed by Raj Basu, the film has Vivek Banerjee' cinematography and music by Bikram Ghosh. Indian actors include Rituparna Sengupta, Rupa Ganguly and Kaushik Sen with a cameo role by Sabysachi.

Thanking the audience at the premiere, Rituparna Sengupta said: "Your appreciation of a film made in Bengali in the US will pave way for future filmmakers here to produce more films."

"This is the first time in the history of Bengali cinema that actors from different countries such as Russia, South Africa and Philippines have acted together, giving the film a truly international flavour," she said.

Source: http://www.hindu.com

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German NGO helps disabled children in Ladakh

Leh: A few German volunteers along with residents in Ladakh district of Jammu and Kashmir are running a non–governmental organisation to provide required medical facilities to disabled children of the state.

In 2003, a German couple, Karola and Juergen Kostia while visiting a village in Ladakh came across a child with CP (Cerebral Palsy)

They then realised that there are many other untreated children with similar conditions in the region and that they and their families desperately needed help.

They then started Ladakh–Hilfe (Ladakh Help), a non–profit organisation funded by donations. The organisation started sending professional physiotherapists and occupational therapists from Germany, Switzerland and Austria to Ladakh to work as volunteers.

However, in 2008, residents in association with the Ladakh–Hilfe founded an NGO 'Rewa Society, Ladakh Disabled Children Group'.

"I think it's very important that you don't always compare normal children with handicapped children because every child has the right of their own development. The children that come to Rewa, they just need a little bit more time and special treatment," said Alexandra, a German volunteer.

Residents are being employed by the organisation and many dedicated foreign volunteers give professional care to the physically challenged children.

Working with the people in the remote areas requires a lot of patience and sensibility, said an official.

"It was very difficult in the beginning. We had to struggle a lot. But somehow, we managed to convince the parents of the physically challenged children. We tell them how to treat a disabled child, how to keep him/her at home and to love him/her like any other normal child. We educate the parents. Things have now improved a lot and we are happy," said Tshering Dolkar, Senior Coordinator, Rewa Society And Ladakh Hilfe, Leh.

The main objective of the society and the German based NGO Ladakh Hilfe is to help physically challenged children of the Ladakh region to become independent by equipping them with necessary skills.

Apart from physiotherapy, children are also taught basic exercise and they have shown remarkable improvement.

"Initially, all of us, my family members thought that she is very healthy that's why she is not being able to walk properly. But later on we came to know about her problem. We then took her to the hospital. The doctor told us about a few therapies and about the Rewa Society. Now I can see improvement in her after joining the centre," said Zaro Bano, mother of a physically challenged child.

At present, almost 15 children are undergoing treatment at the Rewa Ability Centre.

Source: http://www.newstrackindia.com

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Visually impaired man runs for state assembly position

BERHAMPUR, April 6: Debasish Paramanik takes out his election campaign without a loudspeaker or a vehicle. But he is confident, as this visually impaired person feels he has "seen" the real world.

"I hope the voters of Gopalpur constituency will make history by electing a blind person from their Assembly segment," says 26–year–old Paramanik, who is contesting the April 16 Assembly elections as an Independent.

"Although, I have not seen the real picture of the society, but I can still visualize people's sufferings. That has compelled me to contest," said Paramanik, who is tabla master by profession.

His candidature is also supported by the National Federation of Blind, Orissa unit, he claimed. Without a vehicle or a loudspeaker, this blind candidate, along with his two friends, goes from door to door and urges the voters to chose him over the others in the Assembly segment, located on the shores of the Bay of Bengal. I

It is definitely difficult for this candidate to manage his travel expenses. But Paramanik asks the voters to contribute Re 1 towards his travel expenditure.

"I have received a good response everywhere in my constituency," he maintained with a smile. People have contributed without any hesitation," he added.

Defying the scorching heat that has been around 40 degrees Celsius for the past few days, Paramanik campaigns between 8 am to 9 pm everyday. In the afternoon, he and his co–campaigners, take a break for lunch at a voter's house.

"I appeal to them to vote for me and also ask for a handful of rice and Re 1," he said. "I have already covered most of villages that are predominated by fishermen," the Independent candidate said.

In the coming days, he hopes, more blind persons will join the campaign, as the state unit of the National Federation of Blind has extended their support to his candidature.

Paramanik, who is also the secretary of the Ganjam district Blind Association, was not totally blind at the time of his birth. But when he turned 12, he became cent per cent blind as his poor parents could not provide him with the necessary treatment. One of his brother is 75 per cent blind.

"Although I am blind, I do not have any regret. Come what may, I want to do something for the welfare of disabled persons and the society at large," he said.

Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com

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People with Disabilities demand inclusion in manifestos

BHUBANESWAR, 6 Apr: People with disabilities on April 4 accused successive governments and political parties of neglecting them over the years.

"The politicians refuse to take up our issues. They are blind towards our cause," they complained.

"Despite our repeated requests and proposals before the major political parties, none have taken initiative to even make a false promise of jobs for disabled in their manifesto," claimed general secretary of Orissa Association for the Blind Sanyasi Behera.

"In their vision document, BJP has mentioned a few schemes for the people, but Congress has maintained an absolute silence. This has disheartened people with disabilities, who comprise about 10 per cent of the population,"she added.

"We know every vote counts. Disabled people have the right to vote. What we want is our civil rights, including education, health services, nutrition and employment," Behera said, adding, "We will not remain silent bystanders anymore. We want our demands addressed. We want them included in their electoral manifestoes and their common minimum programme."

A group of disabled persons' organizations and civil services organizations on April 4 visited some of the political party offices and submitted a charter of demands for disabled persons.

"People with disabilities will vote only for parties that recognize and address their grievances" this was the clear message conveyed at a recent convention of the handicapped.

"Our politics is disability–based and we will vote for only those who accept our demands," said an activist of Aina, an NGO working for disabled people.

The demands raised by representatives for inclusion in the manifesto of political parties include a separate department for the welfare of disabled persons, their inclusion in the 100–day rural employment project, reservation in local bodies, Assemblies and Parliament, ensuring job opportunities in areas reserved for the handicapped through special recruitment, barrier–free access in all buildings, setting up of a helpline to make disabled people aware of their rights, reservation in housing projects, providing them with free bus passes irrespective of the nature of disability and distance, allocating five per cent of the annual budget for their welfare and making polling booths disabled–friendly.

Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com

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Disabled person moves Bombay High Court for certificate

Mumbai, 6 Apr: A disabled person has moved the Bombay High Court, seeking directives for availing himself of a disability certificate.

Petitioner Rahul Girredy, who was born in 1990 with a deep cleft palate and bilateral lip, had undergone six surgeries at different stages of his life. In the light of the surgical procedures performed on him over the years, his medical status says he has an inherent deformity and a speech disability, leading to limitations in his capacity.

Girredy had approached the Commissioner of Disabilities in August 2008, for directing the appropriate authorities to provide him with a disability certificate. However, the Disability Commissioner, through a letter dated September 9, 2008, directed Girredy to approach the medical officer concerned with the required medical certificate for obtaining the disability certificate.

The petitioner's father, accordingly, wrote to the Director and Chief Medical Officer of Sion Hospital, requesting him to issue the disability certificate.Girredy approached the High Court since there was no progress in the matter.

The papers issued by the head of ENT of Grant Medical College and JJ Hospital implicitly stated that the petitioner is suffering from a disability owing to inherent deformity and they put the disability in communication at 35 per cent.

Girredy also states that he cannot even perform preliminary functions like breathing, eating, consumption of liquids and speech properly owing to the disability.

He has now sought directives for availing himself of a certificate and also a temporary certificate till the pending of the petition.

"After the hearing, the state had sought time from a division bench headed by the Chief Justice to reply in the case. It will come up for hearing on Monday," said assistant government pleader G W Mattos.

According to petitioner's lawyer Jamshed Mistry, so many things like getting a job and other reservations and benefits for disabled person becomes easier with the possession of a disability certificate.

Source: http://www.expressindia.com

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Digital Braille libraries unfold a new world for blind people

Pune, Apr 02: The shortage of Braille books will now matter less for visually–impaired students in Pune and nearby areas, with the installation of digital Braille libraries by city–based voluntary organisations working for blind people.

The two libraries were installed and tested last month and students have started using them. The digital Braille library includes five independent readers along with a Pentium 4 core 2 Duo processor, Braille reader, Braille embosser and two uninterrupted power supply systems. It is sponsored under the Rotary Matching Grant Project and implemented by the Rotary Club of Pune Westend in association with the Rotary Club of Eau Gallie, Florida, USA.

In the system designed by Modular Infotech Private Limited and Automatic Control Equipments, one has to first translate a book into Braille using the Braille translator software. Any text in Devnagari and Roman script can be translated into Braille using the Duxbury Braille translator. "After translation, these books are stored in pen drives, which can then be connected to Braille Mitra, as each unit of the digital Braille library is called," said Meena Bedarkar, founder of Nirmalya Trust, one of the two institutions that received the library system. One can also take the printout of the translated Braille books on Braille embosser.

Each reader can work independently without the help of a PC. The user can feel a line of Braille characters that appear on this reader, similar to that of a Braille book. The line is driven by a microcomputer, the next line appears automatically on the same place. "The reader also has options like forward, rewind, next book and so on. The total cost of the project is Rs 16.8 lakh.

Ismail Attar, one of the users of the library, said, "this will be of great help to students as there is a shortage of Braille text books, especially after class XI. They have to depend on fellow students for study material and notes. However, now, they can convert an entire textbook into Braille and read it on this library."

He said it will especially help visually and hearing–impaired students. Niwant Andha Mukta Vidyalaya, Viman Nagar has also received this digital Braille library.

Source: http://www.expressindia.com

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Election Commission of India to Make Lok Sabha Polls Disabled–Friendly

LUCKNOW, 2 Apr: Every single voter counts in a democracy. Thus, specific guidelines have been issued by the Election Commission of India (ECI) to ensure that people with disabilities are able to exercise their franchise. The ECI has issued directions for the construction of ramps at all polling stations for the convenience of disabled persons, informed officials. "Access is the first thing that needs to be looked into," said Anuj Bishnoi, chief electoral officer (CEO), UP. As per official figures, some 87,000 polling booths will be set up across the state.

The ECI swung into action following the Supreme Court order. Passing the order on a Public Interest Litigation filed by a Delhi based non–government organisation, the court said, "...all polling stations as far as practicable, should be located on ground floor and provided with ramps. Provision would also be made for locating electors' names against a polling station or a group of polling stations through helplines and facilitation centres. Polling personnel should also be sensitised to address the need of this group of voters(disabled persons).." Other elements in the guidelines say that separate queues should be formed for people with disabilities.

Welcoming the stand, Ram Kumar of Indian Association for the handicapped said, "This is for the first time that a general election will be disabled–friendly." He took the opportunity to condemn administrative ineptitude and general apathy on the part of development authorities across the state. "Our development authorities must take a lesson from the ECI which is constructing ramps for a day's event. The authorities are not concerned about places where disabled persons have to move round the year," he lamented.

The country has around eight crore disabled persons. The corresponding figures for UP and Lucknow stand at 34.5 lakh and 69,000 respectively. But, despite having their names in voter's list, many of them are unable to exercise their right. Hope, this will be a passe from now.

Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com

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Aisle Wheelchair now available on boarding the airplane

NEW DELHI, 31 Mar: In order to make flying a comfortable experience for disabled people, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has made it mandatory for all airlines to carry aisle wheelchairs by July 31.

Aisle Wheelchair
This chair will be used for taking physically disabled passengers from their seats to toilet during flight or for being wheeled around on long or ultralong sectors.

Interestingly, the DGCA had prepared its civil aviation requirement (CAR) for providing certain minimum facilities to the physically challenged last year but it remained a draft so far. Recently the court of chief commissioner for persons with disabilities pointed out that the DGCA had prepared a draft CAR but without the power to enforce the same, it may serve little purpose.

The directorate then sought time to change its rules and has now amended them. The CAR for persons with disabilities is going to be strictly implemented. If the things this rule provides for like having aisle wheelchairs on all flights by July 31 are not adhered to, action will be taken against airlines,Esaid a senior official.

In the past, there have been several instances where airlines have refused to take physically challenged passengers on their flights. Now under CAR, airlines will be able to do so only in extreme cases where safety of aircraft or fellow passengers could be endangered. In fact, airlines can refuse an assistive device or even guide dog if the passenger has told them that he or she would be using them at time of booking. It also lays stress on training employees to take care of special needs of the physically challenged, including at the airport.

The DGCA has also addressed airline industry objections to the provision of providing all assistance to disabled people free of cost contained in the original draft CAR. The carriers said that charging for assistance should be left to them alone. So under CAR, airlines are allowed to charge for stretchers and any extra material that it provided to the passenger. In fact, the DGCA has in recent past made several draft rules for passengers convenience.

But the economic slowdown has meant that the aviation ministry has given higher priority to saving airlines and airport developers.

As a result, CARs on passenger rights have taken a backseat. A case in point is a draft that provides compensation and penalty to passengers in case of deficiencies in service to passengers like being wrongly denied boarding to a confirm ticket holder or an inordinately long delay not caused by natural reasons. This draft CAR is yet to be finalised and issued. If this draft is issued, airlines will have to pay for deficiency in service. They have cited poor financial health and the draft has not been finalised and issued to date, said a senior official.

Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/

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Governments, parties neglecting disabled citizens: CPI–M

New Delhi, March 30: The Communist Party of India–Marxist (CPI–M) Monday accused the successive governments and the mainstream political parties of neglecting disabled citizens.

"Successive governments and mainstream political parties have utterly failed disabled citizens by ignoring and neglecting their issues," said CPI–M politburo member Brinda Karat, while releasing the party's pamphlets for women, Dalits, tribals and disabled here.

"The Congress–led government's slogan of 'inclusive growth' rings hollow when seen in relation to the rights, needs and requirements of disabled people or differently abled population in India, even though they constitute at least six percent of the population," she said.

According to the CPI–M, the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government's record on providing job opportunities for disabled people had been dismal.

It noted Finance Minister P. Chidambaram had announced a scheme of providing 100,000 jobs per annum to persons with disabilities, with a proposed outlay of Rs.18 billion (Rs.1800 crore) during the 11th Plan in the 2006–07 Budget.

However, Chidambaram himself admitted some time later that "not a single recruitment has been made six months after the scheme was announced," the CPI–M said.

The CPI–M called for a special employment guarantee scheme to be designed for disabled people in all parts of the country that provides them suitable employment, ensuring at least minimum wages throughout the year.

The Persons With Disabilities (PWD) Act provides three percent reservation in jobs in all government and public sector units for disabled people. The share of disabled people against the total strength in actual terms is barely 0.44 percent as against their estimated population of 5–6 percent, it said.

Source: http://www.thaindian.com

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Transport Ministry make Delhi accessible for people with disabilities

New Delhi: In a noble initiative by the Tourism and the Transport Ministry together – all the infrastructure in the Capital – from bus stops, buses to heritage sites –– are going to be made more user friendly for disabled people.

Patient of Cerebral palsy since birth, Samuel Mani hasn't deterred his zeal to lead a normal life. He uses a wheelchair for moving around, but most of the places in and around the Capital were out of reach for him. But now till Swayam took the initiative to make the Capital disabled–friendly and many like Mani are surely finding things easy.

"Ab main apne aap travel kar paoonga ghusne se lekar chadhne tak, (now I can travel on my own independently)," said Mani.

There are more than two million people suffering from various disabilities in the Delhi alone. From buses to bus queue shelters, all are being revamped to make them user friendly. And the special low floor buses with features like wider doors; ramp, seat belts and request bells are surely a hit with the users.

The Transport Ministry plans to include more than 6,000 disabled–friendly buses in its fleet before 2010.

Even the heritage sites are being made completely accessible for disabled people. Ramps are already in place around the Qutb Minar and efforts are on to make the Red Fort accessible too.

"This means more independence and more freedom. I can walk and roam around in the Qutb Minar without any help kyunki humein bhi azadi chahiye, enjoyment chahiye, (because even we want freedom and enjoyment)," said another disabled person, Manish Gupta.

And Swayam plans to make not only the Capital, but the entire country accessible for these differently abled people.

"We are also looking to improve various public buildings, the railways and air ports," said president Swayam, Sminu Jindal.

With such an initiative in place one can certainly hope that every place in the country will soon be disabled–friendly.

http://ibnlive.in.com

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