This article on “”Indian Infrastructure is Disabled Friendly” – Is It Really?” is written by Ishita Mehta.

Is Indian Infrastructure disabled friendly?

One of the most important thing which everyone is concerned about is the development of India and disabled friendly atmosphere is the most important thing which should be brought into force for the development.

Universal applicability for growth of the country as a whole is very necessary. Disability is an umbrella term. A disabled person has a problem in the structure of his body which makes it difficult for the execution of any task or action.

Indian Infrastructure Not Disabled Friendly

The Indian infrastructure in most of the places is not disabled friendly. Assistive technology is something which helps the people with disability by giving them assistance and rehabilitative devices. It increases functional capabilities of the individuals with disabilities.

Such devices are not installed in India that makes it inconvenient for disabled people to access public infrastructure.

If we see the problem from sociological perspective, there have not been any upgrades or advancements in the system. Henceforth, there is no growth for the disabled person. There are still a lot of places where barrier free access is not available to the disabled or handicapped. This is needed in both rural as well as urban areas.

Making Indian Infrastructure Disabled Friendly

Millions of disabled people live in underdeveloped infrastructure. Aside from metro, none of our open transport frameworks are disabled friendly.

There are a lot of public infrastructures where it gets very hard for the disabled people to get access to and having access to the disabled people is still a neglected issue.

An attempt to get out of the house and travel places, for the disabled people, is still a far cry. Like any other person, barrier free environment for a disabled person is his legal right too under the constitution of India.

Policy makers should consider it very important to build a disabled friendly based Indian infrastructure.

Even if the Disabled people visit an accessible area, it requires a lot of efforts and hard work for them to get access to a particular area. The sad part is there are no standards for infrastructural accessibility which leads to no redressal for any complaints made by the disabled people.

According to a survey, only 11% of the architects are aware of the designs and information that is used for accessibility design for the disabled. Indian law for Indian infrastructure is not that well developed and not a lot of things are mandated which should be given importance.

To ensure uniform and appropriate accessibility, there should be standard rules of set  provided to the disable. India might not be ready right now to create disabled-friendly infrastructure but, there are major steps which are taking place to update the latest design requirements as per the international standards.

According to me, the first step required to ensure effective changes in the country is to have accessibility standards.

• To provide complete accessibility to the people with disabilities, a lot of campaigns have been launched for them to gain equal opportunity, live independently and participate fully in all aspects of life in an inclusive society.

Its primary motive is to enhance access to the physical environment, public transportation and to provide knowledge. There should be accessibility across public places for disabled people.

According to NBC ( National building code ), it is mandatory for all the airports and railway stations to provide accessibility to the disabled but, there is no mandation related to accessibility regarding the other public places which are used by the disabled people. Hence, this leads to a lot of problem to be faced by the disabled.

There is such a ghastly measure of shame attached to handicap that we neglect everything else connected with the individual who bears it. Rather than saluting the battling soul of individuals with in-capacities, society in general tends to dismiss their entitlement to live.

India has been a focal point of unity and a place that is known for empathy in the midst of the diversities. As capable subjects of the nation, we have to trust that handicapped people merit measure up to rights and openings, far beyond our obligation to bolster them.

Voyaging is, by a long shot, a standout amongst the most enhancing encounters of an individual’s lifetime. Each individual is ought to have the chance to travel and investigate at their pace.

As the Year of Accessible Travel attracts to the county, India as a country can embrace the accompanying measures to make wheelchair relaxes a sensible thought.

• The majority of the national landmarks in the nation need appropriate foundation to guarantee a handicapped individual can stroll in and explore at his/her own pace.

• Building stages and inclines to move around and giving wheelchairs and sound aides are a portion of the means that should be taken to ensure that all our national landmarks are open for guests with disabilities. While travelling, one of the most critical concerns is getting around.

• India’s open travel frameworks can be redone to offer smooth access to the handicapped. Holding seats are not sufficient. The railroad stages should be adjusted to make the wheelchairs move effortlessly between roads.

• Offering public toilets in parks, malls , offices etc is one step easier to make travel accessible for the handicapped.

Of course, everyone gets the urge to travel. Disabled person can also travel if there are local  disabled travel guides appointed to help them.

Awareness About The Acute Need Of Disabled Friendly Zones

• Steps are formed to conduct zonal based awareness for all the architects and builders and real estate developers about how much of the growing population is disabled and how India badly need friendly disabled zones.

• There should be creation of blogs and videos to make everyone understand the meaning of accessibility.

• Proposals should be made and accepted for the creation of ramps and accessible toilets.

• India is now becoming internet accessible country, in relation to that steps should be taken to build up a mobile app which shows different areas and localities where access is available to disabled people.

Today, Indian Infrastructure is Disabled Friendly!

India has come a long way in becoming disabled friendly country but there are a lot of improvements been done and implemented.

• The airlines have provided parking zones for for physically handicapped people and other necessary arrangements which is needed by the disabled.

• Metros have started building elevators so that they get access to public domain easily without any effort.

• Indian Railways have also made ramps which are not slippery and are easily walkable. There are toilets built on the ground floor and there are different seats reserved inside the train for the disabled.

• There are measures which are been taken to give employment to the disabled people, the Lemon hotel chains are in total support of giving employment to the disabled people, where there will be 7% cut off for these people. They seek to provide them higher positions instead of just a low wage work.

• Museums have started building tactile texture so that the visually disabled realize that where do they have to stop with accordance to different patterns of the tiles.

• We often forget that even if a person is blind, he can have some other talents too. There are a lot of spas where the visually challenged people learn different styles of massages of different country and are fully employed only on the basis of their talents leading to no discrimination.

• The government has also built an app where the disabled people can easily locate places that have disabled friendly atmosphere.

Another great story about making beaches disabled friendly has come in contact. It says that a two km long stretch will be made disabled friendly. This is a great initiative taken by the government to ensure that everyone gets the benefit to enjoy their rights equally.

• The government has recently launched the Accessible India Campaign to promote accessibility.

Under this campaign over 50% of the buildings in India will be made accessible to disabled people. There will be standard sets by the government also by the year 2010 to meet the friendly based requirements of the disabled. This is a major step taken by the government towards building an inclusive society.

They also want to take initiative to include scholarship programs for a better education and for the development of the new braille language.

• National awards are given to the disabled people to encourage them to live a positive life and maintain atmosphere feasible to them.

India will soon have incentive to develop disable friendly buildings and it will be developed both in public sector and private sector. It’s time for some fair play.

Must Read: Laws Catering to the disabled in India

There will be ethical push given in the corporate sector. Private sector will soon be adopting new measures to build buildings which are easily accessible to disabled people. The government will soon enact more laws which only focuses on the rights of the disabled people.

Indian Infrastructure is not a very disabled friendly but there are laws which are slowly getting implemented.

What do you think? Is Indian Infrastructure disabled friendly?

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