Date:03/12/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/12/03/stories/2008120351020300.htm

Other States - Puducherry

Ramps yet to become common in public places

Serena Josephine M.

Union Territory has a total population of 20,000 persons with disabilities

Photo: T. Singaravelou

Much-needed facility: Ramps such as this one at a government school are not found in several buildings in Puducherry. —

PUDUCHERRY: A barrier-free environment still remains far-fetched for a large section of persons with disabilities in Puducherry. Public places, government buildings and a number of educational institutions continue to function without ramps.

The Union Territory has a total population of 20,000 persons with disabilities. Of this, approximately 10,000 persons have orthopaedic disabilities, 4,000 visually challenged and 6,000 persons with hearing impairment, said officials of the Directorate of Social Welfare.

“Most of the government buildings, higher educational institutions and public places do not have ramps. We face a lot of difficulty using the stairs. Even the Social Welfare Department, which caters to our needs, is not disabled-friendly,” Iyyappan, a physically challenged person, said. The Persons With Disabilities Act, 1995 clearly indicates the need for disabled-friendly infrastructure at buildings, T. Mohan, psychologist and Deputy Director (Rehabilitation) in-charge at the Vocational Rehabilitation Centre for Handicapped, Union Ministry of Labour and Employment, said.

“The Act makes it compulsory for the buildings to have ramps for persons with disabilities. There ought to be hand railings and separate toilets for them. Ramps are present only in the railway station and a few schools,” he said.

Officials at the Puducherry Legislative Assembly said that disabled-friendly measures were absent on the premises.

“We have planned for ramps at the newly proposed Assembly building,” they said.

Officials at the Education Department said that only around 80 schools of 426 government schools did not have ramps. There were 2,983 physically challenged students, majority of them studying in government and private schools. “The Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan has obtained funds to construct ramps in the remaining schools this year,” an official said.

Meanwhile, the Pondicherry University has started to install ramps at some of its new buildings.

“We have placed orders for ramps for the old buildings, including the administrative block. Under the XI Five Year Plan, proper structures will be installed at the buildings for disabled-friendly measures,” an authority said.

Instructions had been given to the Public Works Department to construct ramps in all public buildings and government offices , a senior official of the Social Welfare Directorate said.