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 – January 2008 Issue
- India's first ever Assistive Technology Conference and Exhibition Techshare India 2008
- Moreh camp assesses disability
- Nokia Launches N82 Smartphone For Visually Impaired
- Disabled people to picket all collectorates
- Foreign students to make documentary on trust run by disabled people
- Exclusive hostel sought for visually impaired women
- Experts meet to discuss disaster preparedness for disabled people
- AIIMS told to restore livelihood of disabled people
- Social security scheme for disabled people launched
- Directions to airlines to ensure barrier–free environment for disabled people
- Visually Impaired on hunger strike
- Court directive over facilities for disabled people
- CCEA clears scheme to promote jobs for disabled people
- Talking book library for visually impaired
- Govt clears Rs 1,800 cr scheme for pvt. jobs for disabled people
- Training programme launched
- UT moots proposal to down all barriers for special children's admission in govt schools
- Disabled marathoners want to push the limit further
- A new ray of hope for dyslexic children
- States urged to make education more inclusive to help disabled people
- Disabled girl gets US home, searches for Indian parents
- 'Disabled people a neglected lot in state'
- Disabled students told to focus on education
- 'Free help to disabled people can't be enforced'
India's first ever Assistive Technology Conference and Exhibition Techshare India 2008
NEW DELHI: Royal National Institute of the Blind (UK) and BarrierBreak Technologies announced that they have partnered to bring to India Techshare, Biggest technology event to promote accessible technology for people with disabilities. In a joint statement released, they announced that Techshare India 2008 will be held in New Delhi on 4th and 5th February, 2008 at the India Habitat Centre.
In a first of it's kind activity in India, Techshare India 2008 will highlight the importance of implementing accessibility standards and complying to different accessibilities law. In addition, Techshare India 2008 will also exhibit and showcase IT products and services that will allow visitors to browse through the latest in assistive technologies available. It will showcase the role of technology in the lives of people with disabilities, looking not just at web accessibility but also software accessibility, and accessibility on the move for mobiles and PDAs. One of the highlights of the event will be an experiential lab where every one can first hand feel what it is to have a disability.
Some of the key speakers at the conference will be Shadi Abou Zahra from the World Wide Web Consortium, David Baquis, Accessibility Specialist, US Access Board; Omprakash Subarrao, Director Consulting Practices, Yahoo India; Kenny Johar, Research, Architecture and Solutions Lead Vision Australia; Lisa D. Friendly, Director, BookShare.org among others.
Techshare India 2008
4th and 5th February, 2008
Stein Auditorium, India Habitat Centre, Lodhi Road, New Delhi–110003
What is Techshare India?
600 million people with disability in the world. India alone has 60 million disabled people. In addition, India has ratified the UN Convention for Persons with Disabilities. Would you like to tap this market?
India has the Persons with Disabilities Act that focuses on equal opportunities, protection of rights and full participation for people with disabilities. But we have not succeeded in main streaming people with disabilities into society. The answer lies in building and creating awareness about the needs and potential of the people with disabilities and not in the legal framework alone.
BarrierBreak Technologies is organizing a conference and exhibition that will bring together the entire ecosystem – the government, the corporates, the NGOs, the disabled, the product companies and the education providers for the first time under one roof. The conference will be a platform to share insights and learning's.
Since 2000, Royal National Institute for the Blind (RNIB), UK, has been organizing Techshare. RNIB, UK and BarrierBreak Technologies now bring Techshare to India.
Techshare offers workshops and presentations. In addition, it provides an opportunity to meet with eminent professionals working in this area from all over the world as well as browse the exhibition space.
On display will be state–of–the–art experience lab showcasing assistive technology Exhibition with 25 plus stalls displaying assistive aids pan disability
About Royal National Institute of the Blind (RNIB), UK:
RNIB is UK's leading charity offering information, support and advice to over two million people with sight loss. Their pioneering work helps anyone with a sight problem ? not just with braille and Talking Books, but with imaginative and practical solutions to everyday challenges. Their projects such as Talk and Support and Parent's Place make a difference to people's lives. They campaign extensively to eliminate avoidable sight loss and support research into the causes and latest treatments of eye disease.
About BarrierBreak Technologies:
BarrierBreak Technologies is an innovative firm that provides solutions in the field of Accessibility for People with Disabilities. BarrierBreak works with corporates, institutions and individuals to provide accessibility training, accessibility testing and accessibility consulting services that would empower people with disabilities to avoid discrimination and enjoy equal rights and opportunities.
Source: http://www.indiaprwire.com
http://www.barrierbreak.com
Moreh camp assesses disability
Moreh, January 30: A one day Disability Assessment cum Awareness Camp
was jointly organised by the Department of Social Welfare and Tamil
Sangam Moreh at Sunrise Youth Club here today.
During the camp, Asst Commissioner (Disability) M Angou spoke on the
rights of persons with disabilities and various benefits entitled to
them.
Welfare Officer (Disability) L Ibomcha spoke on benefits and welfare
schemes the Govt should provide to persons with disabilities under the
Disability Act 1995 as resource person.
In the second session where people living with disabilities were
assessed, more than 126 disabled persons belonging to Moreh and
surrounding area attended the camp.
They were also assured that the Dept will provide them basic assistance
very soon.
The camp concluded with screening of a short film which showed the feats
of some persons with disabilities.
Source: http://e-pao.net
Back to TopNokia Launches N82 Smartphone For Visually Impaired
Nokia N82 is the first smartphone designed for visually impaired with an incorporated text recognition technology, which enables text to be converted into speech. The gadget is the result of a partnership between the National Federation of the Blind and Kurzweil Technologies and Nokia, whose product was based on the K–NFB Reading Technology.
The phone will not only have the functions of a regular cell phone, but it will also use the same principle as the KNFB reader device, which means the Nokia N82 can also be used to scan various documents. The device aims not only at blind persons, but also at people who need assistance in reading and children with learning disabilities, especially dyslexics.
The purpose of developing such a device is to incorporate all the functions other products available on the market today have, in a compact, simple and productive way. And the best thing about it is that the visually impaired or people with learning disabilities will no longer need to carry a bunch of devices with them, instead, the Nokia N82 will perfectly fit in their pocket.
Ray Kurzwell first developed the technology that converted text into speech in the 1970s, and over the next 30 years it became clear that people needed such products. The 10 million visually impaired in the United States are said to triple their number in the next 30 years, and the devices need to be constantly updated to meet the needs of the consumers.
Nokia N82 is just the first step in an attempt to create more compact and useful gadgets to assist blind persons. "The KNFB Reader Mobile will allow the blind unprecedented access to the printed word, affording a level of flexibility and capability never before available," Dr. Marc Maurer, President of the National Federation of the Blind, said in a statement. "This Reader will substantially improve the quality of life for the growing number of blind people and people who are losing vision, including senior."
The phone will cost approximately $500 dollars, but the text–recognizing technology itself will cost around $1,500, but all in all, less than any previous reading device on the market. Taking that into consideration, the sales are likely to be a success and top the sales of other reading devices for blind peopl
Source: http://www.efluxmedia.com
Back to TopDisabled people to picket all collectorates
VIJAYAWADA, January 29: Physically disabled persons will launch an agitation on
February 11 on a scale not witnessed before if the State Government
fails to address their grievances by the, Madiga Reservation Porata
Samiti president Manda Krishna Madiga has thundered.
Talking to mediapersons here on Monday, he said that over 50 lakh
disabled people in the State were living in inhuman conditions and yet
the chief minister was yet to show his humane face.
''If Rajasekhara Reddy fails to protect the rights of disabled people, he
will automatically perish,'' Madiga said.
''The Chief Minister might have broken the massive agitation launched
by disabled people under MRPS banner two months ago but they would
undertake even bigger agitation from February 11 to open the eyes of the
Congress Government to the plight of disabled people.
An all–party meeting will be held on February 8 to chalk out a plan for
the agitation. All collectorates in the State would be picketed on
February 11. If the government did not budge even by then a massive
'Chalo Assembly' programme will be organised,'' the MRPS leader said.
On SC categorisation, Krishna Madiga said a programme would be chalked
out after the Usha Mehra Commission submitted its report in February.
Till then the MRPS would mainly focus on the rights of disabled people, he
added. On the attack on film actor Rajasekhar by Chiranjivi's fans at
Hyderabad, he said everyone had the right to express his or her opinion.
If the fans indulged in such violent attacks to throttle the freedom of
speech of others, Chiranjivi, who was mulling over floating a political
outfit, would have to pay dearly,'' Madiga added.
Source: http://www.hindu.com/2008/01/24/stories/2008012460031100.htm
Back to TopForeign students to make documentary on trust run by disabled people
KOCHI, 28 Jan: A group of mass communication students from Norway is here to
make a documentary and conduct research on a city–based charitable trust
formed by disabled people.
"The second–year students from the Oslo Westerdal School of
Communication, who arrived in Thiruvanthapuram yesterday, will come to
the Prathyasha Foundation in a couple of days to study its activities
and make a documentary," said, Simon George, Managing Trustee and
Chairman of the Foundation.
The central character in the documentary will revolve around the life of
George, himself a disabled person.
He said that the delegation, led by Naina Anderson, was impressed by the
Foundation's work and its various programmes, including pre–marital
meets, community marriages, job fairs and mega shows for disabled people "all of which they came to know through the Foundation's
website".
The foundation conducted a pre–marital meet for disabled people of
Kerala at Kochi on the 'World Disabled Day' on December three, 2005, in
which 100 disabled people selected life partners. It also conducted a
community marriage of 40 disabled people at Kochi on May 25, 2006, he
said.
The second pre–marital meet was held on October five, 2006 at Kochi, the
third between December 4 and 8 the same year and the fourth at
Thiruvananthapuram on July 19, 2007, he said.
The Norwegian students had already visited several countries to study
the working of organisations for disabled people, George said.
The team proposed to telecast the documentary in theatres and TV
channels in Norway after their return, George said.
Source: http://economictimes.indiatimes.com
Back to TopExclusive hostel sought for visually impaired women
CHENNAI: Visually impaired women told the audience that they were
treated like 'second–class citizens', at a meeting held to discuss
their problems. All support that is offered to them takes the form of
charity, rather than that of granting rights, they said, at the meeting
organised by the Nandini Voice for the Deprived here on Saturday.
A. Meenakshi Sundari, teacher, recalled that she was denied life
insurance because she was visually impaired. Another speaker said
several banks refused her loan for self–employment activity.
An exclusive hostel for visually–impaired women was a common request.
With a large number of these women being from the lower–income category,
they are left without support in the event of a care–taker's death.
Several are also from rural areas where opportunities for self–
sufficiency are limited. Providing them a safe space in an urban area
would be of great help, some said. Instances of physical molestation
were several, they pointed out.
Unemployment was another problem, with the private sector often denying
employment. Most of the visually–impaired were employed under the
government quotas. One participant said that she was denied the post of
receptionist at a private firm. When the manager was asked for a reason,
he said that customers would consider a blind person at the first point
of contact with the firm as a 'bad omen'.
N.S. Venkataraman, trustee, said that the decision to hold the meeting
followed an awards function that was organised for the visually–impaired
in December. The women had then pointed out that sighted persons had
spoken far longer than the visually–impaired themselves about the
problems the latter face. The decision to give them a platform resulted
in the meeting held.
The proceedings of the meeting would be published as a booklet, he said.
Recommendations would also be drafted for the government to consider.
Source: http://www.hindu.com/2008/01/28/stories/2008012858610400.htm
Back to TopExperts meet to discuss disaster preparedness for disabled people
BHUBANESWAR, Jan. 28: The frequency of natural calamities and disasters
is bound to increase due to environmental degradation. A rise in sea
levels would threaten the coastal population. The speakers at an
international seminar on Disability and Disasters organised by Shanta
Memorial Rehabilitation Centre here today emphasised on disaster
mitigation projects and the need to adopt an affirmative action for the
physically and mentally disabled people, who are worst hit during such
occurrences.
Disaster management plans and funds should be specific and special
strategies should be adopted for disabled population, the speakers
added.
The poorer people always suffer the most during calamities.
The chief guest general Mr NC Vij, PVSM, UYSM, AVSM (retd), who is the
vice–chairman of the national disaster mitigation authority (NDMA) said
that Rs 20,000 crore has been allocated for adoption of mitigation
projects during the 11th plan period. Guidelines relating to disasters
like earthquake, industrial calamity, mass casualty and medical
preparedness and so on have already been formulated, while those for
tsunami and trauma management are being worked out, Mr Vij said.
Mr Vij said that a detailed project report of mitigation projects are
being prepared and they would be put to place in a year's time.
Orissa is likely to get Rs 250 crore in terms of mitigation projects, he
said, while adding that this more than funds which are released from the
national calamity relief fund. Mr Vij emphasised on the community work
and said that it should be the core area of operation.Communities should
be prepared to face crises during disasters.
Mr Vij said that the army needs teach psycho–social training to handle
disasters.
This comes in handy when dealing with the traumatised or disabled
victims.
There are 40 million disabled people in the country, Mr NVC Menon,
member of NDMA said. He noted that the world has become more conscious
ever since the tsunami. The government of India has earmarked Rs 1,800
crore in last year's budget for disabled people.
The panchayati raj institutions should be involved in conducting a
survey to identify the number of disabled people living in an area and
bring out a base line data.
Mr Menon informed that states like Chhatisgarh and Karnataka have
evolved a draft disability policy. The chief secretary, Mr Ajit Tripathy,
urged the participants to evolve a separate code for disabled persons.
Mr Tripathy quoted a few lines of a Hindi song tum besahara ho to kisika
sahara bano and also referred to the Amitabh Bachhan starrer Black.
The secretary general of rehabilitation international, Mr Tomas
Langerwall, said that environmental disasters are bound to increase and
sea levels will rise. The government, NGOs and private sector should
take responsibility in checking environmental damages.
Mr Aurobinda Behera, principal secretary, water resources department,
said that Orissa has a well placed disaster mitigation mechanism in
place and it was one of the first states to undertake a survey of the
disabled population.
He, however, felt that special funding, codes and a single window system
for disabled people need to be evolved.
Source: http://www.thestatesman.net
Back to TopAIIMS told to restore livelihood of disabled people
NEW DELHI, 25 Jan: The Delhi High Court has directed the All–India Institute of
Medical Sciences (AIIMS) to allow a physically disabled persons PCO telephone booth
operator to resume his business on its premises.
The Court directed the AIIMS administration to restore the PCO booth to
physically disabled persons petitioner, Dalip Kumar Chadha. It had evicted
him from the premises in 2005, saying that he did not have the documents
to support ownership of the booth. However, the Court dismissed the
contention saying that having not disputed the petitioner's claim to
the booth for more than two decades, it would be iniquitous of the AIIMS
to contend that he did not have the documentary evidence in support of
his claim to ownership of the booth.
The Court also pulled up the AIIMS administration. Justice Rabindra
Bhatt of the Court observed: "The action of the AIIMS administration is
indefensible."
The Department of Post and Telegraph had allotted the booth to Chadha in
1981 on the AIIMS premises under a scheme for physically disabled persons.
Chadha had initially challenged his eviction from the premises before
the Chief Commissioner for Disabilities. The Chief Commissioner had
allowed his plea and asked the AIIMS administration to allow him to
operate his booth. The AIIMS administration had challenged the Chief
Commissioner's order in the High Court.
Source: http://www.hindu.com/2008/01/26/stories/2008012660301000.htm
Back to TopSocial security scheme for disabled people launched
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Nemom block panchayat has taken up a community–
based health care and rehabilitation project aimed at improving the lot
of disabled persons. Named 'Sampoorna,' the project seeks to provide
home care facilities and vocational training for the needy among disabled people.
According to project coordinator K.Vijayachandran, Sampoorna was
designed to address the needs of disabled persons from children to
senior citizens. He said the National Rural Health Mission had agreed to
fund the project.
"There are approximately 7,000 disabled persons in the area falling
under the block panchayat, many of them bed ridden and badly in need of
medical care and social support. Each of the seven gram panchayats will
set up teams trained to reach medical assistance to the doorstep of the
disabled. The home care teams will utilise the services of doctors,
physiotherapists and Ayurvedic physicians. They will make periodic
visits to assess the condition of the patients and record their progress.
The public health centres will be upgraded and equipped for the
Sampoorna project," Mr.Vijayachandran said.
Another component of the project involves equipping day care centres to
accommodate the disabled. The volunteer teams will be trained to reach
food and medicine to these centres.
The block panchayat has drawn up plans to set up a resource centre for
the disabled. "The land has been identified and moves are afoot to
construct a building for the resource centre," Mr.Vijayachandran said.
Another key objective of the project is to use education as a tool to
bring the disabled into the mainstream of social life. As part of this,
the block panchayat will take up a broad based programme, including
special schooling, vocational training and distribution of wheelchairs
and other aids to children and youth. The panchayat will also join hands
with the parents of disabled children to form a social support system.
As many as five self–help groups for the disabled are to be set up in
each panchayat.
In the first phase, a dyslexia clinic would start functioning at the
Nemom UPS. The facility would be extended to other schools in the block
panchayat. A home school scheme has been proposed for disabled children
who find it difficult to move out of their houses.
Community participation and capacity–building are key elements of the
project. Parents and volunteers will be trained to recognise the special
needs of the disabled and manage them. The panchayat also has plans to
set up a care home for disabled people in the next phase of the project.
District panchayat president Anavoor Nagappan inaugurated the scheme at
a function held at Nemom on Tuesday. Block panchayat president Kalliyoor
Sreedharan was present. As many as 300 disabled persons including
children participated in the function.
Source: http://www.hindu.com/2008/01/23/stories/2008012359160300.htm
Back to TopDirections to airlines to ensure barrier–free environment for disabled people
CHENNAI: The Centre is planning to issue necessary directions to all airlines in the country to ensure a barrier–free environment for disabled passengers in airport as well as aircraft, the Madras High Court was informed on Wednesday.
Responding to a public interest litigation petition filed by L.K. Venkat, who highlighted an incident wherein a physically disabled person, Rajiv Rajan, was not allowed to board an Air Sahara plane, the Centre said: "Civil Aviation Requirement (CAR) on the subject 'carriage by air of stretcher–borne passengers' already exists. This CAR is being suitably amended in consonance with the Persons with Disabilities (Equal Opportunities Act) and necessary directions are contemplated to be issued to all the airliners."
When Assistant Solicitor–General P. Wilson submitted the counter and the amended CAR before a Division Bench, comprising Justice Prafulla Kumar Misra and Justice K. Chandru, the Judges sought to know as to what was the airlines' explanation for the incident highlighted in the petition.
They then ordered notice to Air Sahara, and adjourned the matter for three weeks.
The counter, filed by the Director of Airworthiness at Chennai Airport, K.S. Balasubramanian, said the Person with Disability Act 1995 was being implemented in the civil aviation sector and there was no discrimination against any disabled person. Both airport and aircraft had suitably been designed to ensure that disabled persons had easy access to toilets and other amenities, it said.
He said the alleged incident, involving Rajiv Rajan, was not brought to the knowledge of the authorities.
The amended CAR, defining physically disabled passengers, said all operators engaged in scheduled and non–scheduled air transport services for carriage of passengers should comply with the requirements. No airline should refuse to carry physically disabled passengers or incapacitated persons or persons with disabilities if they did not pose a threat to the safety of other passengers, their property, aircraft or the crew, it said.
The airlines must conspicuously display a placard informing the passengers as to where passengers with disabilities could contact for special assistance.
The airlines should run programme for their staff for every three years and they should be entrusted with the responsibility of assisting the disabled persons.
Among other facilities, the amended CAR stated that except in specific instances no medical clearance or special forms should be required for such physically disabled or incapacitated passengers, who only required special assistance for embarking/disembarking.
Source: http://www.hindu.com/2008/01/24/stories/2008012460031100.htm
Back to TopVisually Impaired on hunger strike
BHADRAK, Jan. 23: Eleven visually candidates of Bhadrak district who
applied for the post of sikshya sahayak under the sarva sikshya abhiyan
(SSA) today observed a hunger strike in front of the residential office
of the collector of Bhadrak, demanding engagement as per as the
reservation made by the government for blind people.
According to Mr Bibekananda Sahoo, one of the agitators, said that since
2001 they have been deprived of jobs under the sarva sikhya abhiyan,
though point number 80 of the roster rule of the government clearly
indicates that one per cent should be reserved for the visually
impaired.
There is also a statutory order passed by the High Court on 14 October,
2004, in which it had directed the government to fill up the vacancies
meant for blind people. Similarly the revenue divisional commissioner,
central range, Mr Suresh Mohapatra had sent letters to all the
collectors, directing them to adhere strictly to the one per cent
reservation rule meant for the visually impaired, Mr Sahoo said. But
nothing has been done by the district administration, whereas in other
districts theyhave been engaged as sikshya sahayaks and are performing
their duty well, he added.
Earlier we had met the collector who assured us that the one per cent
reservation rule would be implemented during the second phase of the
selection, Mr Sanyas Behera, the general secretary of the Orissa
Association for Blind people.
On 21 January, the Bhadrak collector had forwarded a list of physically
disabled candidates to the district disability board for the
verification of their disability certificates, but these visually
impaired applicants were allegedly excluded from the list.
On 22 January, they had met the district project coordinator (DPC) and
wanted to know as to why they were excluded from the list.
But the DPC misbehaved with them, alleged Mr Behera. So we all have
decided to go on a hunger strike till our demands are fulfilled, he said.
Source: http://www.thestatesman.net
Back to TopCourt directive over facilities for disabled people
NEW DELHI, 23 Jan: The Delhi High Court on Monday directed the Union Government,
the Delhi Government and local authorities here to issue circulars to
all official departments and agencies to provide disabled–friendly
facilities at all public places in the Capital in keeping with the
Persons with Disabilities (Equal Opportunities, Protection of Rights and
Full Participation) Act, 1995, which mandates the Centre and the State
governments to provide facilities for disabled people.
A Division Bench of the Court comprising Justice T.S. Thakur and Justice
Aruna Suresh issued the direction on a public interest litigation by the
Disabled Rights Group (DRG) of Javed Abidi seeking directions for providing
special facilities for disabled people at all public places.
The Bench later disposed of the petition.
In an earlier hearing, the Court had directed the Railway Ministry to
provide wheelchairs at all railway stations across the country for the
physically disabled people.
The PIL had also sought a direction for setting up ramps for the
physically disabled people as provided under the Act.
Source: http://www.hindu.com/2008/01/22/stories/2008012257130400.htm
Back to TopCCEA clears scheme to promote jobs for disabled people
NEW DELHI: The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs on Thursday cleared a scheme under which incentives will be given to the employers providing jobs to disabled people. This is in pursuance of the National Policy for Persons with Disabilities that was adopted in 2006.
The incentives will be in the form of payment by the government to the employers' contribution to the Employees Provident Fund and the Employees State Insurance for the first three years for their employees covered under the Persons with Disabilities (Equal Opportunities, Protection of Rights and Full Participation) Act and the National Trust for the Welfare of Persons with Autism, Cerebral Palsy, Mental Retardation and Multiple Disabilities Act.
The scheme will be available only to those appointed after the date of the sanction of the scheme. Also, the employers will have to continue to bear the administrative charges of 1.1 per cent of the wages of the employees covered under the Employment Provident Fund and Miscellaneous Provisions Act.
The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment will give lump sum funds to the Employees Provident Fund Organisation and the Employees State Insurance Corporation as an advance, which will be later adjusted against individual claims received from the employers. The amount will be replenished periodically. Initially, the two organisations will be provided Rs. 5 crore each, and in case there is a need for more, the amount will be enhanced.
A high–level committee, co–chaired by the Secretaries of the Ministry of Labour and Employment and the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, will monitor the implementation of the scheme. The Chief Provident Fund Commissioner and the Commissioner of the Employees State Insurance Corporation will be part of the panel as members.
The CCEA also cleared an outlay of Rs. 1,800 crore for the scheme for the current Plan period. The scheme envisages creation of one lakh jobs for the disabled a year. It will be a centrally sponsored scheme. It will be open to companies in the organised sector. It will be applicable to employees with wages up to Rs. 25,000 a month.
Chaired by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, the CCEA also approved revision in the criteria under the Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalaya scheme. Under the new criteria, for the rural areas, administrative blocks where the female literacy rate is below 30 per cent will qualify as educationally backward blocks. For the urban areas, out of the 338 towns and cities identified by the Ministry of Minority Affairs, 94 towns and cities with a female literacy rate below the national average of 53.76 per cent will qualify for the scheme.
The CCEA gave the nod for gauge conversion of the Ratlam–Mhow–Khandwa–Akola section at a cost of Rs. 1,421 crore. The project will help better passenger and freight traffic from Secunderabad and Chennai to Jaipur, Ajmer, Ratlam, Indore, Khandwa, Akola and other towns in north–west Rajasthan. It will also facilitate movement of military personnel and equipment to and from the Mhow cantonment.
Source: http://www.hindu.com/2008/01/18/stories/2008011853481400.htm
Back to TopTalking book library for visually impaired
COIMBATORE: A 'talking book library' will come to the help of visually
impaired students here since learning through Braille system is
"difficult for them."
The library, which will be called 'Bharathi–Rotary Talking Book Library
', will be set up by the Bharathiar University (BU) with the support of
a Rotary Club. It will be opened in a month at a private college in the
city.
Speaking on the occasion of 199th birth anniversary of Louie Braille at
Nirmala College, organised by the Association for the Rights of the
Visually Challenged (ARVIC), the V–C Dr G Thiruvasagam said that there
would be around 1,000 titles on various subjects, including fiction,
apart from books to prepare for civil service examinations.
All the subjects will be kept in the form of audio cassettes and CDs.
Twenty tape recorders will also be available at the library. He said the
varsity was also planning to develop a complete data on disabled persons in the district and would give it to the government.
Earlier, the V–C said almost 84 per cent of disabled people in the
country, who will come around 90 million, have not yet benefited from
the welfare schemes available to them because they do not have leaders.
"The development of a country depends on the contribution from each
individual. And we need to utilise the best out of these people too,"
he remarked.
Blind people alone constitute 48 per cent among the 90 million who come
under the `disabled' category, he said, and added that only a meagre
percentage of them benefit from education.
The V–C also said that according to a University Grants Commission
report, only six percentage of the blind take up higher education. While
exhorting to change the attitude towards disabled people at every level, he
said education and improvements in the field of medicine will help disabled people improve their quality of life.
Principal Pauline Mary and president of the association R Sreenivasan
were also present.
Source: http://www.newindpress.com
Back to TopGovt clears Rs 1,800 cr scheme for pvt. jobs for disabled people
New Delhi, Jan 17 : With shrinking employment opportunities in the state sector, the government today approved a Rs 1,800 crore scheme for incentivising private sector to employ 1,00,000 disabled people a year.
The approval to the scheme, envisaging payment by the government towards employers' contribution to the Employees' Provident Fund and the Employees' State Insurance, was given by the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs.
The "historic decision" would involve government outlay of Rs 1,800 crore during the 11th Five Year Plan, Information and Broadcasting Minister Priyaranjan Dasmunsi told reporters after the CCEA meeting.
"Employment opportunities in the government have been shrinking over the years. Therefore, it has become necessary that employment opportunities for persons with disabilities are created in the private sector by giving incentives to the employers," he said.
Source: http://www.ptinews.com
Back to TopTraining programme launched
CHENNAI: A training programme for representatives of various non–governmental organisations to enable them set up early intervention centres and homes for mentally disabled persons was launched recently.
Inaugurating the programme, organised by the Office of the State Commissioner for Disabled people, Social Welfare minister Poongothai Aladi Aruna said early intervention centres would be set up in 30 districts to identify mental disability among children at an early stage. Non–governmental organisations would run such centres to identify and train mentally disabled infants and children aged below six years. The State government had sanctioned Rs.1.58 crore for the centres to train about 50 children. She urged the NGO representatives to create awareness among the parents of early detection of mental disability and special education.
Ms. Poongothai later unveiled campaign boards to spread awareness of the detection of hearing impairment and mental disability among children. State Commissioner for the Disabled V.K. Jeyakodi said 80 boards would be put up in public places in every district.
Source: http://www.hindu.com/2008/01/15/stories/2008011552150200.htm
Back to TopUT moots proposal to down all barriers for special children's admission in govt schools
Chandigarh, January 13 In a move to bring special children into the mainstream, the Union Territory (UT) Education Department has mooted a proposal wherein they cannot be denied admission in any government school.
According to the proposal, no fees would be charged from disabled students either.
If the said proposal is approved, they will have a choice to join any of the school of their choice.
The department, in order to make the proposal workable, is also in the process of making the required changes in the infrastructure of different government schools.
The department has already approved a proposal that had sought to make education free for such students.
From the beginning of the new academic session, no fees would be charged from students facing any kind of physical disability and their education would be free from Class I to Class XII.
Talking to Newsline, Director Public Instructions (Schools), S K Setia said, "We are trying our best to accommodate the students facing disability in every government school and for the same we are planning renovation in the different government schools. Wherever required we will replace the stairs with ramps."
According to the sources in the department, the proposal regarding free education has been approved after a student facing physical disability was refused admission at one of the government schools recently.
The officials, however, maintained that they had this proposal on mind since long and have nothing to do with any particular incident.
Most of the government schools have ramps but there are a few that require a lot of renovation and the same is being planned by the department.
Students facing disability will also be provided books and other required stationery.
DPI (S), SK Setia, "Our aim is to provide maximum education. Many a time, children facing disability do not go to school owing to long distance. If the proposal is finalised, it would be a great help to such children"
Source: http://www.expressindia.com
Back to TopDisabled marathoners want to push the limit further
Mumbai, January 6: They have been part of the2.5–km race at the Mumbai Marathon for the last four years, but a couple of disabled athletes from the city now want to take it seriously and show their mettle. However, the organisers aren't ready to buy their argument.
"I have been taking part in marathon since its inception four years ago. I have been participating in the wheelchair event over a distance of 2.5 kilometres, but I think that distance and the race has failed to showcase our talent," says Satyaprakash Tiwari, who has won 13 medals in international events, including a bronze at the 2006 Asian Games.
"In our race, different kinds of people including those on three–wheelers and crutches also take part. We are athletes of international repute and I feel the race and its distance is not doing justice to our calibre," adds Tiwari, who had lost both his legs from below knees in a local train accident in 1981.
"I should be allowed to compete in the half–marathon over a distance of 21 kilometres. There I think I can show what I'm capable of," says the 41–year–old Ghatkopar resident who had won medals in events like running, badminton, tennis and discus throw.
Tiwari's friend Manoj Khaire a Worli resident who has a deformed right leg due to polio in fact met the organisers last year. "They had promised me that something would be done next year, but even this year the organisers aren't ready to provide us the opportunity," said 41–year–old Khaire who has six international medals in his bag.
"The half–marathon that they want to compete has a very steep bridge in its way at Peddar Road," says Vivek Singh of Procam International, the organiser of the race. "It requires special training to climb that bridge and the kind of wheelchairs these athletes are using are not the ones suitable for such events. Our race director Hugh Jones feels it could be very dangerous for them. Therefore, we can't allow them to compete in that event," said Singh.
Tiwari, however, has not lost hope. "I admit that it could really be risky for us but we also have expensive wheelchairs which we have been using and winning medals in international events. We can use them for such races. We should be given a chance to show our strength over the Peddar Road bridge. I'm sure we can do it. I understand this year they can't allow us trial runs at this short notice but I will officially request them in advance next year. I hope we can prove them wrong," says Tiwari.
And these disabled athletes just don't want to prove a point about their capacity but they also want to send across the message to everyone. "We want to show all our able and disabled countrymen that if we could participate in the half–marathon, they could also compete. The only thing required here is will power," adds Tiwari.
Source: http://www.expressindia.com
Back to TopA new ray of hope for dyslexic children
NEW DELHI: With Aamir Khan's directorial debut in "Taare Zameen Par" being lapped up by critics and masses alike, the movie's theme – dyslexia and children from it – has made people sit up and take notice, as parents and teachers try to understand the learning disorder with a sudden renewed interest.
The manner in which Aamir helps the protagonist in the film deal with his disorder left many in the audience thinking about dyslexia and the means of curing it.
A Delhi University professor who has been working in the field of dyslexia for 15 years has for the past one year been using a comprehensive package of assessment and intervention programmes evolved by her for such children in the city.
As part of her research project funded by the University Grants Commission, the Head of Psychology Department at the University, Ashum Gupta, has developed a package of tests and procedures for identifying dyslexia in children, assess their language (both Hindi and English) understanding and then address relating problems.
For the past one year, she has been holding workshops in schools and some non–government organisations to sensitise people about dyslexia.
"About 10 per cent of children in this country suffer from learning disabilities of various kinds. Nearly 3 per cent of them are dyslexic. The awareness about dyslexia is growing but more needs to be done. I have developed an assessment battery comprising different tests in Hindi and English to assess the exact problem with the child. The tests include reading, writing and spelling. The tests are administered to children in schools or their homes," says Prof. Gupta, whose research has been published in many journals.
"Apart from dealing with the child, we also take interviews of parents and children spread over about five sessions. Including parents is important because there are times they start labelling their children as dyslexic because of some perceived symptoms. But they could be wrong," she added.
Based on this assessment, an intervention package is put to use at the level of children as well as parents and teachers according to the nature of the problem.
"There are different types of disorders in children. For instance, some children have more of a reading problem than writing; there are others who find memorising things more difficult. Different strategies are employed in the intervention package. We enhance their reading ability by recording their sessions and then playing it again for them to understand where they made a mistake."
"Phonological strategies are also employed that helps a child to understand different sounds. We use computers too as it always catches their fascination. There is emphasis on using images to make them understand the meaning of a word. Long words are broken into segments, written in big size and pronounced loudly. It is quite a laborious process," Prof. Gupta points out.
The entire intervention process takes at least a year and the training has to be assiduously followed by parents and teachers till the children are mature enough to devise their own methods to augment their learning.
"We tell caregivers that they need to cultivate patience with such children. The package definitely benefits the children, but takes a lot of time. The rate of improvement is slow. They must not compare different children and not have negative perceptions about their wards," she said.
Source: http://www.hindu.com/2008/01/08/stories/2008010855750800.htm
Back to TopStates urged to make education more inclusive to help disabled people
CHENNAI: When Manoj Kumar, the Centre's Chief Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities, asked a group of cerebral palsy students at the Spastics Society of Tamil Nadu (SPASTN) what their career ambitions were, they replied in unison, "We want to be software engineers."
"If the aspirations of thousands of children with disabilities across the country are to be fulfilled, State Governments need to make education more inclusive" Mr. Kumar said.
The Society works with children with cerebral palsy and its associated conditions, providing them with education and vocational training, besides helping to place them in mainstream schools.
"Education is the biggest concern," Mr. Kumar said. "States need to give inclusive education more thrust, and all higher education institutions must fulfil the 3 per cent reservation."
According to a recently released report of the World Bank, a large number of children with disabilities remain out of school.
A 2005 survey of 1,400 households revealed that in Tamil Nadu, 45 per cent of the disabled children were out of school. Only Assam and Madhya Pradesh had higher rates.
Mr. Kumar said State Governments needed to identify jobs suited to the needs of disabled candidates in a better manner if vacancies in the reserved posts were to be filled. "State Governments simply have to comply with the 3 per cent reservation, which is a statutory provision."
While State Governments argue that vacancies remain as there are not enough applicants, Mr. Kumar said the larger problem lay in States not identifying jobs to suit the needs of a particular candidate. "State Governments need to improve the identification process. The Union Government has notified around 2,000 jobs, but many States have not followed this identification process. If they do, the appointments they make will be more. You have to find a job to fit the needs of a particular person."
During his visit to Tamil Nadu, Mr. Kumar will interact with several departments to assess whether mandated reservations have been fulfilled. "Things are better in Tamil Nadu than in other States, but there are still several lapses, especially with regard to jobs," he said.
Annie Shyam, director of the Society, said if employment rates for people with disabilities were to be improved, access to schools and workplaces had to be increased. "We hear people say that reservations are not taken up," she said. "But for that to happen, we need to improve access. This is not just the responsibility of the State Government, but of every individual. We have to make our workplaces more disabled friendly."
Source: http://www.hindu.com/2008/01/08/stories/2008010854860500.htm
Back to TopDisabled girl gets US home, searches for Indian parents
Bangalore: Her journey began at the Ashraya children's home in Bangalore where Minda spend the first 20 months of her life.
Born without arms and legs, Minda was abandoned when she was just one day old by her biological mother. But there were others who saw beyond her condition.
Minda was adopted by an American couple and taken to the US ? to a new family and a new future.
"I admit it has not been easy. I wanted to be a normal child. I wanted people to know that I am not being sad about being disabled. But I am really finding my disability being a blessing," says she.
Minda's adoptive mother, Cathy Cox says she saw something special in her daughter the first time she laid eyes on her.
"I thought this is a baby with courage and this is a baby with love for life. She was a happy child, wasn't afraid and wasn't shy, so I thought she'll be fine," says Cathy.
Minda's passion and talent for painting have enabled her to sell an entire gallery of paintings in her hometown in Missouri. She has used her earnings to return to India and search for her biological mother ? the woman who named her Swapna, and left her to her fate in a hospital room 20 years back.
Minda says she is grateful to her biological mother for keeping her alive and would someday like to meet her and thank her.
Source: http://www.ibnlive.com
Back to Top'Disabled people a neglected lot in state'
PATNA: Chief commissioner of disabilities Dr Manoj Kumar had held a court in Patna about six months back and issued directions to various state departments in as many as 2,033 cases. Strangely, not a single directive has been followed till now.
"No confirmation report has been issued in even a single case," Kumar told TOI. "Nobody appears to care for disabled people in Bihar," he added.
If the compliance reports are not sent at the earliest, the next court would be held in Delhi, Kumar has intimated to the state chief secretary in writing.
According to a moderate estimate, about 10 per cent of the population comprises physically and mentally disabled people.
The National Handicapped Finance Corporation, which gives study and self–employment loans to the disabled, has not given a single paisa in Bihar as the state government failed to give it block guarantee.
The Union ministry of empowerment and social justice has formed district–level committees, headed by DMs, which decide the legal guardianship of men.
These committees have hardly met in the last two years. The state has also failed to implement the 3 per cent reservation for physically disabled persons in government jobs despite repeated reminders from the office of the chief commissioner (disabilities), Delhi.
Advertisements for government jobs are normally issued without the 3 per cent reservation criteria for the disabled.
Neither is the 3 per cent of all poverty eradication programs adhered to, Kumar said.
Over 18 months ago, on the request of chief minister Nitish Kumar, Union minister Meira Kumar had agreed to establish a composite rehabilitation centre (CRC), which was supposed to be the apex body for facilitating treatment and rehabilitation of disabled persons.
The state was asked to provide 5 acres of land. It is yet to meet this criterion.
The office of the chief commissioner of disabilities recently issued notices to all chief secretaries asking them to provide information relating to the number of disability certificates issued by the government district–wise.
"It is believed that only 10 per cent of the disabled population have been given disability certificates, which is required to avail of certain facilities provided to the disabled. In Bihar, this percentage can be further low," Kumar said.
Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com
Back to TopDisabled students told to focus on education
KADAPA: Disability is not a hindrance to get educated and disabled people should sincerely pursue education for their bright future, Zilla
Parishad Chairperson D Jyothi Reddy said.
Speaking after distributing tricycles to disabled people at Rajiv
Vidya Mission office here on Monday, she said disabled people
should not feel that they are inferior to anyone and strive to get good
grades in academics.
Helping the poor students in some way or the other is a social
obligation of every one, she said.
Rajiv Vidya Mission project officer Ramesh Kumar explained the goals of
the mission. As many as 918 disabled children are being
provided home–based education under the mission.AMO Krishnaiah, CMO Rajendra Prasad and others were present.
Source: http://www.newindpress.com
Back to Top'Free help to disabled people can't be enforced'
NEW DELHI: The government's first attempt to regulate pricing policy of
airlines could come to naught and add to the costs of disabled passengers.
Following several complaints from disabled rights groups, the
Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) had about a month back
issued a draft civil aviation requirement (CAR) on the subject. Among
other things, it asked airlines to mandatorily provide free assistance
to such passengers. The rule was to go into effect from January 1.
While most airlines currently provide wheelchairs, stretchers and
ambulifts free, they have strongly opposed making the free service
compulsory. The Federation of Indian Airlines – a joint body of Air
India, Jet, Kingfisher, Deccan, GoAir, IndiGo, Paramount and SpiceJet –
has said that the industry must be free to recover any extra cost that's
incurred in the process of providing assistance to handicapped
passengers.
Saying airlines are aware of their responsibilities towards disabled passengers, FIA has submitted its reply to the CAR to the
ministry and DGCA.
"FIA believes that the issue of costs and cost–recovery for such special
facilities cannot be mandated through the CAR. In our consultation with
members, all carriers have expressed their strong opposition to airlines
being denied the right to charge and recover costs for service provided,
" it said.
It goes on to add: "No other passengers are provided services free of
charge. Any additional service should necessarily come at a charge to
the passenger using the service, else the increased costs will need to
be borne by the other airline passengers which is unfair. Airlines
should be allowed to independently decide the charges, which certainly
should be communicated clearly to passengers."
It has pointed out that the earlier CAR of July, 2005, allows airlines
to charge for any additional service provided to passengers with special
needs.
The new CAR stipulated that no airline would refuse to carry persons on
a stretcher if they are accompanied by an escort who would look after
them in flight. While FIA agrees to this, it says: "However, the
carriage must be paid for. For example, a stretcher requires displacing
nine seats that would otherwise be sold as revenue. It must be clear
that these seats must be reserved in advance and paid for."
Similarly, the new rules say that all airlines must provide assistance
to persons with disabilities/reduced mobility from the departing airport
terminal to the destination airport terminal without any additional
charge. "The Airlines strongly disagree with this statement. It is one
thing to provide service, another to do it for free. No other passengers
are provided free–of–charge services," the FIA has said.
Asked about this stand, a member airline of FIA said that most carriers
provide these services free of charge and may even continue to do so.
"But the decision to charge or provide assistance free must be the
commercial decision of airlines. It can't be legally mandated," he said.
This is not the first time airlines are spurning government's moves on
influencing their charges. While the aviation ministry strongly opposed
the term "congestion surcharge", airlines continue to levy it.
Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com
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