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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 – October 2009 Issue



Disabled people seek agency to register modified vehicles

CHENNAI, 21 Oct: Laws are supposed to benefit citizens. But an amendment made to the Central Motor Vehicles Act to ensure that people with disabilities can have a safe ride on the road has hit a roadblock as the state does not have any authorised facility to certify modifications made to two–wheelers and four–wheelers.

Until seven years ago, people with disabilities used to buy two–wheelers, modify them at local workshops and register them as invalid carriages'. Not anymore. The Union government amended the Central Motor Vehicles Act in 2002 to prevent such modifications and stated that vehicles owned by persons with disabilities should be modified only by agencies certified by the Central Institute of Road Transport (CIRT) and the International Centre for Automotive Technology (ICAT) in Pune.

"We want the state government to establish an automobile institute like the one in Pune, to certify modifications made to two–wheelers for use of the disabled. This will help several persons with disabilities who are not able to register their vehicles now," said K Gopinath, state general secretary, TN Association for the Welfare of Physically disabled people and also a member of the TN Welfare Board for Disabled people.

Persons with disabilities use their own vehicles to move around as public transport is crowded and disabled–friendly facilities are not present. There are a couple of workshops that modify two–wheelers but they are not certified by CIRT or ICAT.

"Most of the people with disabilities have modified two–wheelers by fitting two extra wheels on either side of the vehicle. Some people have customised gears and the brake system. Such modifications are carried out either by the dealer or by some local workshops," Gopinath said.

Two–wheeler manufacturers do not produce two–wheelers with side–cars anymore. "We have to buy side–cars from outside and have them fitted. Even such fittings need to be carried out by an agency approved by CIRT in Pune. This makes registration impossible," he added.

An RTO official said: "The rules were changed by the Union government to standardise vehicle modifications and to ensure that people with disablilities can drive safe vehicles. Modifying vehicles locally may not be safe for driver. So, persons with disabilities are supposed to submit the certification of the agency that modified the vehicles. Automobile manufacturers and workshops have to get certified by CIRT if they wanted to modify vehicles."

Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com

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Bluetooth device modified to act as a hearing aid

VADODARA, 21 Oct: A customer's necessity has led to the mother of all inventions. City–based Nimesh Bhatt, 32, has modified a bluetooth device to also act as a hearing aid.

A customer with partial hearing impairment approached Bhatt wanting a mobile handset that would make his life easy. The device that Bhatt has invented can help elderly persons who have to otherwise rely on bulky hearing aids.

"Even if they use such aids, they find talking on mobiles difficult as they have to use speaker phones and hearing aids or have to go for wireless devices. But, this device serves dual purpose. It acts as a bluetooth using which they can conduct conversations on a cell phone and also helps amplify sounds enabling them to listen to conversations that are not on the phone," says Bhatt.

He has been working on the device for the past eight months. "While the normal hearing aid operates on 1.2 watts, this device operates on 3.7 watts. Here, the batteries are also rechargeable and need to be charged once a day," he adds.

More music to the ears. The device will help the hearing impaired listen to music downloads on the mobile. The device automatically switches to bluetooth mode when the mobile handset is used to make or receive a call. When the phone gets disconnected, the device automatically acts as a hearing aid.

"The customer who approached me wanted a cell phone with a good speaker phone. He wasn't satisfied with the voice output that the mobile handsets generated. It was then that I realized that there should be a device to help the hearing impaired," says Bhatt, who is a commerce graduate from MS University.

Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com

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SSA holds camps to give disability certificates

LUDHIANA, 20 Oct: In order to arm themselves with disability certificates for future academic and job prospects, disabled students of government schools would not have to run from pillar–to–post in the administrative offices. Under the Inclusive Education Programme (IEP), Sarva Shiksha Abhiyaan (SSA) is issuing these certificates to pupils at its camps that have been put up in various parts of the district. These camps would continue through October.

In another development, beginning next month, camps would also be held to treat these students' ailments. District coordinator of IEP Anil Matharoo said, "We have identified 10,793 students suffering from disability and many of them did not have the certificate. It is the second day and we have issued 150 such documents. Besides, we have conducted tests on 150 children with learning disability and cerebral palsy and would provide them with certificates based on test reports."

He added, "After issuing the certificates throughout this month, we will organize camps from next month during which doctors would attend to them free of cost."

Last month, pamphlets carrying the contact numbers of volunteers were distributed in different areas of the district, urging persons concerned to approach them directly.

Under the programme, Rs 1,200 is spent every year, per child. There are 19 resource persons and 112 special education volunteers for 75 wards in the district.

Authorities are trying to identify children till the age of 14 years with hearing impairment, visual impairment, mentally disabled, autism, learning disability and cerebral palsy.

Based on requirement, students are provided with hearing aids, cycles, wheelchairs and children with polio or cerebral palsy are extended treatment under the supervision of physiotherapists.

Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com

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Disabled people join forces to lobby for more job opportunities in rural areas

NEW DELHI: Bishnu Chaudhary and his wife Vijaya Devi with polio, have been waiting for work for the past two years. But on 2 October, Chaudhary and others like him picked up the shovel to show that they too are able.

"We wanted to show that we can also work, just like everyone else can," said Chaudhary, who hails from Dausa district in Rajasthan.

Chaudhary and others like him from nine states have formed a group, called Viklang Manch, to demand that disabled people be treated equally for eligibility under the National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (NREGA), the country's flagship welfare programme which promises 100 days of employment a year to poor rural households.

While the Act is neutral on giving work to people with disabilities, certain aspects, if amended, can aid states in identifying what jobs can be sanctioned for disabled people, according to the group.

"There is nothing certain written in the rules as to what kind of disabled person is eligible for what kind of work," said Sonu Golkar from Khandwa, Madhya Pradesh, the national coordinator for the group. "That should really be the first step."

Works such as arranging for drinking water, computer training and teaching can be undertaken by disabled people, he said. On 2 October, when disabled people workers dug a water tank for Atun panchayat in Rajasthan, they earned Rs75 each for the day's labour, more than the Rs66 per head able–bodied workers doing the same job earned.

The Union government in 2008 circulated an order listing jobs that can be sanctioned for disabled people, but only one state, Madhya Pradesh, has notified it.

The notification says that the Act does not differentiate differently abled people from the rest and specifically mentions what sort of work can be assigned to whom.

"But the Centre can only recommend in such a case and not force the states, as finally, the states are the implementing agency," said Mihir Shah, member, Planning Commission, India's apex planning body.

The informal group has framed its own set of suggested amendments, which they claim will help them get employment. It submitted this proposal to C.P. Joshi, minister for rural development, during the first social audit of NREGA in Bhilwara.

Joshi had said at a public function that disabled people should be treated as one separate family unit when job cards are issued, which was one of the demands.

Among other demands, the Viklang Manch has suggested that 3% of the expenditure in each district be reserved for the disabled, new kinds of work be included in the schedule of works, and jobs specific for particular disabilities be included.

"An official from the social justice and empowerment department should be made a part of the implementation committee of NREGA," said Navin Narayan, programme officer, Action Aid International, a non–profit body operating in around 40 countries.

"Although the Act is friendly in terms of moving decisively (on including disabled people), very little has happened," said Pramathesh Ambasta, national coordinator, civil society consortium on NREGA, a loosely federated collective of civil society organizations to support NREGA.

"Except Madhya Pradesh, which has clearly categorized the works. This needs to be up–scaled." "States need to be convinced that reforms are required and should see the merit in this, as there is lack of an enabling framework for such people," Ambasta added.

For disabled people, access to work under NREGA is not the same story everywhere. According to the data released by the rural development ministry, West Bengal and Chhattisgarh are the best performers in this regard, providing jobs to 30,903 and 14,122 disabled people, respectively, between April and September.

Bihar provided jobs to a mere 41 disabled people in this period. "We face discrimination at every step and this issue is considered too small," said Golkar. "But till a person doesn't have work, he doesn't have dignity."

Source: http://www.livemint.com

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Habibganj Railway Station inaccessible for people with disabilities

Bhopal, Oct 20: India's first ISO 9001:2000 Certified Habibganj Railway Station recently underwent upgradation work by the Railway Ministry. In view of the risk the passengers took by crossing the railway tracks to reach the station from platform number 5, the department has extended the original foot over bridge from platform number 1 to 5 for the convenience of the people. A reservation counter was also opened in the newly constructed building at platform number 5.

Imagine the 45 highly polished granite steps of a World Class Station and a bent old lady of 80 struggling to climb them. Catch of the new construction is that it did not include a ramp, something very crucial in a railway station as any commuter would tell you.

The much–missed ramp is under construction and is proposed to be completed by 26th January 2010, 5 months after the reservation counter was opened to public. To add to the woes, there are no coolies around to help you carry the luggage and there's no lift. Passengers might still be able to haul their luggage, but what about disabled people?

The upgradation did bring about safety and convenience but when you think a world class station, are people supposed to manage with a semi facility due to lack of planning? The other options to access the station are – either going all the way around to the main entrance, or risking crossing track between loose shunting, or waiting for the ramp to be completed before booking tickets for the elderly or disabled people

Source: http://www.centralchronicle.com

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ITF to promote wheelchair tennis in India

MUMBAI: The International Tennis Federation (ITF) has chosen India as one of the countries to promote wheelchair tennis and has sent former wheelchair tennis pro, Britain–born Jayant Mistry, for the purpose.

Mistry, who is here with leading wheelchair tennis coach Stuart Wilkinson and is also the ITF's Player Ambassador, has conducted clinics to popularise the venture in Mumbai and the duo is set to visit Delhi and Chennai too.

The venture in India is being supported by the All India Tennis Association and is part of ITF's project Silver Fund, it was announced at a media conference today.

In wheelchair tennis, the court dimensions are the same as for a game played by normal players but with one minor difference, the ball is allowed to bounce twice before the wheelchair–bound player puts his racket to play a shot.

Source: http://www.ptinews.com

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Govt has not made poll arrangements for disabled voters: Salve

Mumbai, Oct 13: Right activist Shanker Salve, who won a landmark case in the Supreme Court, for a mandatory easy access to election booths in order to enable disabled people to cast their votes, is disheartened with the manner in which the state government has gone ahead making arrangements for disabled people.

According to the Supreme Court order in October 2007, every election booth with at least five disabled voters in the constituency is liable to have a wheel–chair ramp and Braille stickers on the Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs).

However, activists claim many voting booths across the city is yet to implement the SC order.

"We surveyed many voting booths and found that a weak wooden plank has been installed in the name of a ramp. It is not safe for disabled people to climb on the wobbling wooden plank," Shanker Salve, one of the petitioners in the SC told PTI.

Salve, a disabled activist who runs the Apang Vikas Manch alleges that although funds are allocated to set up ramps in every booth, the money is being siphoned off.

"A ramp of specified norm has to be installed in every booth. But the officers flout the norm," Salve said.

Source: http://www.samaylive.com

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Plan to give benefits for people with learning disabilities

New Delhi, Oct. 11: The social welfare ministry has proposed that autism and "learning disabilities" be treated as disabilities under the Persons with Disability Act and special provisions be made for such children.

This is one of the suggestions in the proposed amendments to the Persons with Disabilities (Equal Opportunities, Protection of Rights and Full Participation) Act, 1995.

The proposed changes, being circulated among stakeholders for suggestions, seek to achieve the ideals of the UN Convention on Rights of Persons with Disabilities, 2006, a global benchmark.

The act now includes only seven disabilities ? blindness, low vision, leprosy, hearing impairment, movement disabilities (such as in cerebral palsy), mental retardation and mental illness. Putting autism on the list will entitle such children to all the benefits available to the disabled.

The ministry has also proposed that the education of children with disabilities be made more inclusive in regular schools, through better facilities, instead of giving preference to special institutions. It has been suggested that special educators for the physically disabled be hired in all schools.

Distance education should be free up to the senior secondary stage (Class XII) for persons with disabilities irrespective of age, the ministry has suggested.

A proposal has also been made to introduce a special section in the act specifically for the education of children with cerebral palsy, multiple disabilities, and visual and hearing impairment.

Another change suggested is that the school evaluation system and curriculum should take into account the special requirements of visually impaired children. This could be done, for instance, by giving them more time to write exams and preferential grading.

The ministry has also suggested that 3 per cent of the seats be reserved for the disabled in all recognised institutions ? government, government–aided and private.

In job reservations, already in force, the ministry wants more types of disabilities included in the list. A proposal has been put forward to split the 1 per cent quota for blindness among the blind and persons with low vision.

Another change suggested is that employers carry forward unfilled vacancies for three years against one year now so the disabled have more time to get the jobs.

The ministry has, however, proposed that the incentives ? such as tax breaks ? for hiring the disabled should be limited to private firms because government departments and the public sector are legally bound to employ such individuals. The Centre's goal is that the disabled should make up 5 per cent of the work force.

The ministry has proposed adding a chapter, healthcare of the disabled, to the act to make legal provisions for free healthcare to those below the poverty line with special care for women.

The amendments also seek to provide maintenance allowance to persons with disabilities, especially to those with multiple disabilities, and women. An insurance scheme has also been suggested. Some definitions in the act will be changed to bring them in line with international standards.

Another chapter in the act is sought to be added making it mandatory for the government and local authorities to list the steps taken to ensure the rights of the disabled.

The rights include protection against discrimination, equal opportunities and access to education and jobs. The information will have to be posted in a way that suits the disabled.

Source: http://www.telegraphindia.com

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Bollywood Movies embracing more disabled characters

NEW DELHI, 11 Oct: The destitute poet dying of cancer, the coughing mother suffering from tuberculosis – over the decades, Hindi films have often used diseases to create engrossing drama.

Now with changing times, a fresh bunch of ailments, disorders and conditions are afflicting the protagonists: dyslexia, dextrocardia, progeria, and short–term memory loss.

'Pa', a forthcoming Amitabh and Abhishek Bachchan–starrer, deals with progeria, a condition where a person ages 5–6 times faster than the average individual. Pa's director R Balakrishnan was toying with the idea of casting the father–son duo in a role reversal.

"The film's story fructified when a doctor gave me the details of the condition," he says.

The recent shift in the nature of diseases partly comes from the fact that tuberculosis is no longer life threatening. Cancer remains a major killer but timely discovery offers the possibility of cure. The new ailments provide a certain topicality and give the story a modern feel.

Characters with special ailments gathered focus when Hrithik Roshan played a "developmentally disabled" youth in 'Koi Mil Gaya' (2003) (pictured). A slew of films highlighting such conditions have followed since: Aamir Khan's 'Taare Zameen Par' (2007) created huge awareness about dyslexia, a condition where a person has difficulty in reading and writing. Also, Amitabh Bachchan and Kajol brought Alzheimer's disease in to the limelight in 'Black' (2005) and 'U, Me Aur Hum' (2008) respectively. Karan Johar's forthcoming film, 'My Name is Khan', turns its attention to autism. Similarly, Aamir suffers from short–term memory loss in the action blockbuster, 'Ghajini'. The disease plays an important part in the movie's plot. More recently in 'Luck' (2009), Imran Khan had dextrocardia, a rare medical condition of a person born with his heart on the right.

Irregular ailments have always been an integral part of Hindi films. Mental sickness formed a vital part in the construction of movies such as 'Raat Aur Din' (1967, where the heroine has multiple personality disorder, and 'Arth' (1982), where the heroine is schizophrenic. But as film trade expert Taran Adarsh says, earlier films seldom discussed diseases in detail.

"But now with growing awareness due to television and Internet, script often explains the ailments or mental conditions in detail. The audience also accepts reality more easily today as they are more open to change. Hence you have films like 'Pa' and 'My Name is Khan'," says Adarsh. Nonetheles as Amol Gupte, who wrote the story and screenplay of TZP, points out that barely 2% of popular Hindi cinema attempts to look at special medical conditions.

Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com

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Punjabi University to set up vocational centre for disabled people

Patiala, Oct 09:The Ministry of Human Resource Development has approved the construction of a Centre of Research and Vocational Training for Physically Disabled People at Punjabi University.

With the approval, the university will become the only one in Punjab to have this centre, aimed at empowering disabled people and ensuring 100 per cent employability against the posts reserved for them. University Vice–Chancellor Jaspal Singh said this while presiding over the Senate and Academic Council meeting on Thursday. "The next step will be to explore possibilities and generate avenues for the rehabilitation of drug addicts and eradicating child labour," he added.

The Senate also authorised the Vice–Chancellor for co–opting three members on the Senate for the next two years. It also gave its consent to the Department of Distance Education to start a Bachelor's degree in Business Administration and Diploma in HIV/AIDS counselling.

Source: http://www.indianexpress.com

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After 15 yrs of trying, deaf candidate gets into IAS

NEW DELHI, 8 Oct: Maniram Sharma has won a 15–year–old battle for justice. On Thursday, this deaf IAS candidate learnt he has made it to the service.

With this, Maniram has not just won a personal battle but a milestone victory for disabled persons like him who have been kept away from the premier government service.

Maniram's case has been highlighted by TOI over the past couple of years how his efforts were thwarted on one ground or the other, till he finally went through surgery to make his aided hearing so good that he gave his IAS interview this time by the oral question–and–answer method. Despite this, his induction into the service was just not happening.

While other successful candidates got their call on August 17, he didn't. Finally, on September 3 he was informed that he had cleared the exam on all counts but still had to wait for another month to get his appointment. "I still can't believe it has happened. It has not sunk in. After suffering so many disappointments, it's difficult to imagine it has actually come true,'' Maniram told TOI.

Maniram's IAS saga began in 1995 when he failed in his first attempt to clear the preliminary examination. He was then 100% deaf. Since then he has cleared the exam three times a?" 2005, 2006 and 2009. In 2006, he was told he could not be allotted the IAS as only the partially deaf were eligible, not fully deaf persons like him. So, he was allotted the Post and Telegraph Accounts and Finance Service.

To improve his hearing, Maniram had a surgical cochlear implant, costing Rs 7.5 lakh that now enables him to hear partially. He appeared for the IAS again this year and cleared it, scoring the highest in the hearing–impaired category. Yet, he faced several more hurdles as the government put technical hurdles questioning his level of disability.

Anyway, this story has a happy ending. And Maniram has no complaints. ``If I could wait for 15 years, I could surely wait for a few more months. But the uncertainty kept me on edge,'' he said without rancour. He is off to his village Badangarhi in Alwar district, Rajasthan, to convey the news to his family. ``I have decided to go in person to tell them. My whole village will celebrate.''

Maniram's Badangarhi is a remote village which doesn't even have a school. He started losing his hearing at the age of five, becoming totally deaf by nine. His parents, both illiterate farm labourers, could do little to help. Yet, Maniram continued trudging to the nearest school, 5km away, and cleared class 10 standing fifth in the state board examination and cleared class 12 ranking seventh in the state board.

In his second year in college, he cleared the Rajasthan Public Service Commission (RPSC) examination to become a clerk–cum–typist. He studied and worked during his final year and topped the university in Political Science. He went on to clear the NET (National Eligibility Test).

He then gave up his RPSC job and became a lecturer. Not satisfied with that, he became a Junior Research Fellow and completed his Ph.D in Political Science during which time he taught M Phil and MA students in Rajasthan University. Having completed his Ph.D, Maniram got through the Rajasthan Administrative Service (RAS) and while in service he started trying for the UPSC.

Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com

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Films with sub–titles, audio descriptions for people with disabilities

CHENNAI, 8 Oct: Jaladhi Umasankar (30), who runs a recording company in the city, loves cinema but stopped going to cinema halls after 2002 when he lost his sight because of retinitis pigmentosa, a hereditary condition that damages the optic nerve.

"Without visuals, 90% of the movie–going experience is lost. I could only understand the story idea through the dialogues and I hated to interrupt people to know what was going on in the movie. I thought I was being a nuisance in the theatre by constantly whispering to my companion, seeking explanation of the scenes. So, I stopped going to the movies."

Today, those working with people with disabilites are making an effort to make movies accessible for the latter, not just in terms of setting up ramps for them to find their way into cinema halls, but also enhancing the movie viewing experience. Organisations like the Ability Foundation and the Saksham Charitable Trust in Delhi are working to get captions done for all movies, and not just movies in foreign languages.

This will enable people with hearing disabilities to enjoy a movie better. For those with visual disabilities, they are trying to get movies audio described' to explain the body language, expression and movements in scenes between dialogues.

Through Abilityfest, Ability Foundation's biannual international film fest, the organisers want to encourage the film fraternity to provide captions and audio descriptions for all movies. The films to be screened at Abilityfest, the biannual international film fest, have English subtitles; three films have audio descriptions. Actress and social activist Revathy says, "We are holding dialogues with filmmakers to get them to consider releasing films with audio descriptions and sub–titles."

Adds Janaki Pillai, operations director, Ability Foundation, "We expect filmmakers also to view the movies to be screened. We want them to know the possibilities that technology allows us to do these days." The three movies to be screened with audio descriptions are Resistance by Liz Crow, Phoenix Dance by Karina Epperlein and Aamir Khan's Taare Zameen Par.

Taare Zameen Par is one of the films that have been audio described by the Saksham Trust. The trust has audio described mainstream Hindi films, animation film Hanuman and an Assamese children's film. Rummi Seth, founder–managing trustee, Saksham, says, "We first did it for Black and Munnabhai MBBS in 2005, with the voice of actress and theatre personality, Sushma Seth. These movies and the animation film, Hanuman, were screened at the children's film festival in Hyderabad. The experience of a 13–year–old girl with visual disabilities firmed up our resolution to continue doing this with or without funds from outside. She told us that this was the first film that she had been to in her life," says Rummi.

Aamir Khan has funded the audio description for Taare Zameen Par and has also given the go–ahead for recording the audio description for his Oscar–nominated movie Lagaan.

Former director of the National Film Archives and director of Abilityfest, P K Nair, says, "The purpose of Abilityfest is to show the films to people with disabilites. This time, we wanted those with visual disabilities to respond to the films, given their limitations. To do this has been a real challenge for us."

Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com

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AbilityFest to screen films from 17 countries for disabled people

CHENNAI, 7 Oct: In an effort to bridge the divide between persons with disability and those without, and to sensitise people about disability, Ability Foundation, an NGO, will conduct AbilityFest from October 12 to 15. It will be the third edition of a biannual event, in which films from around the world, made sensitively, with and about people with disabilities, will be screened.

This time, there are films from 17 countries. AbilityFest will open with the German film Beyond Silence', which has two lead actors with hearing disabilities. Aamir Khan's Taare Zameen Par' will also be shown.

For the first time in India, detailed descriptions will unfold on screen as the films play, and there will be suitable audio reproduction for the benefit of the visually impaired, said actor Revathy, vice–chairperson of the team organising the festival.

Ability Foundation will also conduct an all–India one–minute film competition titled 60 seconds to fame', to encourage creative and inspired thinking on the theme of disability. So far, 300 entries have come in. Those selected will be screened between the main films.

The films at AbilityFest will be screened at Sathyam Theatres.

Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com

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Access Audit of public buildings in Delhi to create a barrier–free environment for disabled people

NEW DELHI, 6 Oct: Keen that public places are made more accessible to disabled people, the Centre has in a belated but welcome move decided to take up an access audit of government and public buildings in the Capital with the aim of promoting a barrier–free environment.

India has lagged behind the developed world in creating barrier–free buildings and public places, showing the callousness and utter disregard for disabled people on the part of civic authorities. The urban development ministry, which has engaged an independent agency to carry out the audit, wants to later undertake the exercise in all public buildings and urban spaces frequently visited by people.

Initially, 50 buildings in the Capital will be taken up. More buildings will be covered later, a UD ministry official said. The access audit will include identifying barriers in terms of external and internal built environment of the building such as approach, main gates, parking, building entrance, public dealing area, corridors and general circulation areas, signages, lifts, staircase, ramp, toilets, drinking water facilities, canteens, conference and meeting rooms, exit and emergency evacuation facility, lighting, warning system and safe refuge on ground floor as well as on upper floors.

The ministry, which is the nodal agency for implementation of a barrier free environment under the Persons with Disabilities (Equal Opportunities, Protection of Right and Full Participation) Act 1995, has also directed all states to designate an official in all districts to bring cases of non–compliance to the notice of civic agencies for appropriate action.

Creating a barrier–free built–environment for disabled people is the focus area of the audit. Once the buildings are audited, the report will be taken up by the ministry and implementation will start through CPWD and other civic authorities, said an official.

Though the ministry had formulated ?Guidelines and Space Standards for Barrier Free Environment for Disabled and Elderly Persons" in 1998 and circulated it to state governments and other agencies, there was no audit and course correction.

In the developed world, building plans need to follow disabled friendly bylaws before they are approved and to ensure compliance, access audit is done at regular intervals.

Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com

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Govt to change education laws to better include disabled children

NEW DELHI, 5 Oct: The Manmohan Singh government plans to amend the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009 to broaden the ambit of "disadvantaged" children to include children with disabilities. It would like to introduce the amendments in the winter session of Parliament. The ministry of human resource development (HRD) will be seeking Cabinet approval shortly for the changes.

This move would allow disabled children from economically weaker and disadvantaged sections to take advantage of the 25% seats set aside in private unaided school under Clause 12 of the Act. This had been a key demand of disability activists when they met HRD minister Kapil Sibal.

The ministry also plans to introduce changes in Clause 3 of the Act to extend the right to free and compulsory education to children suffering from disabilities as defined in the National Trust for the Welfare of Persons with Autism, Cerebral Palsy, Mental Retardation and Multiple Disabilities Act, 1999.

This Act deals with severe mental disability and goes beyond the scope of the Disabilities Act. At present, the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act is applicable to disabled children covered by the Disabilities Act.

This move by the ministry of human resource development is in response to the protests by disability activists in August, just ahead of the legislation being taken up for discussion in the Lok Sabha. At the time, the ministry had suggested that it could amend the Act after due consultation with those who work and research on issues relating to the education of children suffering from severe mental disabilities. The ministry had also considered a higher outlay for home–based education, which many children with severe disabilities require.

This effort to draw in larger number of children with disability also comes on the back of data gathered by a survey conducted by the IMRB. The survey found that 34.12% of children with disability were out of school. The national average for children in the age group of 6 to 13 years is 4.22%.

This figure is lower than the situation in 2005 when IMRB found the percentage of children out of school at 38.13. The highest concentration of out of school children is among those with visual disabilities (46%) and multiple disabilities (58.57%).

Source: http://economictimes.indiatimes.com

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West Bengal, Chhattisgarh give most jobs to disabled people under NREGA

New Delhi, 4 Oct: West Bengal and Chhattisgarh have emerged as the top states in implementing the Centre's ambitious flagship programme National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (NREGA) for disabled people.

According to the latest official estimates, West Bengal has provided work to as many as 29,714 disabled people in 2009–10 followed by Chhattisgarh where 13,763 people have been given work. The National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (NREGA) promises 100–day guaranteed unskilled manual work to every rural adult with an aim to alleviate poverty in such areas.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, on the occasion of Gandhi Jayanti on October 2, announced that the scheme will be rechristened as Mahatma Gandhi Rural Employment Guarantee Act.

Madhya Pradesh has acquired third position in providing jobs to 9,787 disabled people, followed closely by Tripura at 8,485, Gujarat at 6,994 and Maharashtra at 5,423.

Rajasthan, where the highest number of people was provided jobs in the current fiscal, could engage only 2,271 disabled people even as a total of 9,384 physically disabled people registered for work under the flagship programme.

Karnataka has provided jobs to a total of 3,722 disabled people, followed by Tamil Nadu at 1,851 and Kerala at 983. A total of 2,680 disabled people have been given jobs in Jharkhand.

As many as 4,410 disabled people have been registered for work under the Act in Bihar. However, the state government has so far provided jobs to only 38 of them.

Compared to the figures of 2008–09, the statistics of the ministry show an increase in the participation of disabled people under the programme in the current financial year.

During the financial year 2008–09, a total of 1,46,855 people were provided jobs under NREGA across the country and then too West Bengal was at the top of the list of the states followed by Madhya Pradesh.

Source: http://www.zeenews.com

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"Rail facilities not user–friendly for persons with disability"

A Wheelchair User being assisted to board a train. A scene at the Egmore railway station
CHENNAI, Oct 4: "Pull the brake chain and make a hue and cry when nothing else helps." That is what advocate Vijay Kumar suggests persons with disability to do when confronted with passengers illegally crowding a special coach meant for them. "People simply stray into a coach for persons with disability without being questioned," he says.

Speaking at a national consultation for "Making the Railways inclusive," organised by the Disability Rights Alliance, here on Saturday, activists from across the country pointed out how persons with disability were treated with due care by railway staff and said facilities meant for them were not sufficient.

Members of the Alliance pointed out that most of the provisions of The Persons with Disabilities (Equal Opportunities, Protection of Rights and Full Participation) Act, 1995, had not been implemented by the Indian Railways. Under the 'non–discrimination clause' of the Act, all transport sectors were required to adapt their existing facilities for easy accessibility.

Mr.Kumar said though Section (69) of the PWD Act had a provision that stipulated fine and imprisonment for persons misusing facilities meant for physically disabled people, the railway authorities never invoked this provision to punish illegal occupants of the special coach. "Right from booking a train ticket to conducting the journey, travelling in a train is uncomfortable for persons with disability," he said.

No catering facility
Coaches for persons with disability were attached near the guard's cabin and no catering facility was extended, activists said. "Do railway authorities expect physically disabled passengers to go hungry and thirsty throughout their journey," Mr.Kumar asked.

"Why can't persons with disability book a train ticket online and avail of a concession when senior citizens can do so," asked M. Srinivasulu from Andhra Pradesh. He said persons with disability have to go in person and book the tickets to avail themselves of the concession.

Width of door
He pointed out that the width of the door of most train compartments were too narrow for a wheelchair–bound person to get in comfortably and disabled–friendly toilets were not available in most trains.

Paul Ramanathan of Karnataka–based NGO KARO said though battery–operated vehicles were available for persons with disabilities at major railway stations, assistance for operating them was not. "Getting from one end of the platform to the other becomes difficult when there are no announcements about the location of the coach," he said.

Simha Chandran of the Tamil Nadu Handicapped Persons Federation said going by the provision of three percent reservations for persons with disability, every train should have at least 60 seats available for them. "But now only four seats are available for them and their escorts in an entire train," he said. He said the Railways should not insist on an escort when physically challenged persons want to travel independently.

Rights activist Rajiv Rajan said a change of attitude towards persons with disability was necessary. "Right now, railway officials only view us as receivers of public charity," he said.

Source: http://thehindu.com

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Schemes for disabled people need to be changed: Experts

Panaji, Oct 1: The Centre's flagship schemes to address the needs of disabled people have become less effective due to changing profile of the targeted population and lack of adequate focus on the rural masses, according to experts in the field.

Disability does not mean just a child with polio or a person without limbs. Its more than that. The disability profile is changing, B D Athani, Director of All India Institute of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (AIIPMR), Mumbai told PTI.

He said lifestyle of people is changing and diseases like diabetics are creating a new category of people who are often at risk of disability.

There are 35 million diabetics in our country. That means 70 million feet are at risk. They require protective footwear, which can save their legs from injuries, he said.

Source: http://www.ptinews.com

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World Deaf Day: Film made by and for hearing impaired to be screened

VADODARA: Hearing impaired will soon experience reel magic by just clicking the mouse. They will have a chance to select from a wide range of options including short films, feature films and animations to docudrama.

This, thanks to Mook Badhir Mandal (MBM), an NGO working for the hearing impaired. To start with, MBM has made a three–hour feature film Mr 420' written, directed, produced and enacted by hearing impaired.

The film will be showcased on occasion of World Deaf Day celebration on Sunday at CC Mehta Auditorium in which over 1,200 people from across country will participate. The day–long celebration will include screening of Mr 420', launching two websites for the community and another one for short films. They will also announce initiation of interpreter training programme for professionals, policemen and doctors to help in communicating with hearing impaired community.

"We have taken inspiration from popular Hindi movies, especially the blockbuster Sholay', which people from our community could not enjoy. It's a comedy film made to entertain people who can't just walk inside a cinema hall to enjoy a film," director of the film Rajesh Ketkar explained through sign language.

Mr 420' was made on a shoe–string budget of Rs 60,000 and shot in and around Vadodara district. The film has all ingredients required for a hardcore commercial film. "The cast and crew worked for free and cooperated in making the film despite some of them got injured during the shoot," added action director Imran Sheikh.

The NGO will also start making short films in Indian sign languages and upload them on the website. "We are creating a special site where films will be uploaded. Short films will be used to generate awareness amongst the community on issues such as AIDS/HIV, deaf women empowerment and sign languages," said Ketkar.

MBM will also come out with interactive Indian sign language dictionary. These will be available in compact disc as well in printable version to aid in grasping the sign language.

Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com

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