No elevators at railway stations & offices, govt seems to be cold to disabled

Even as society is increasingly getting awakened for the welfare of the physically challenged, the government seems to be doing little to comfort their lives.

Several public places in the city are not accessible to the disabled. The biggest trouble that the people with disability in legs face is travelling by train. Even as they are able to take trains from platform no.1, they have to cross over to the platform no. 2 and 3 via the staircase.

It is common to see the physically challenged persons or the aged persons face a lot of difficulty in climbing up the stairs. For the past over seven years, there has been a proposal to have an escalator or elevator at the railway station but the project has not yet taken off. A formal launch for the upgrade of the railway station was held by the Centre in February this year, but there has been a little progress.

Several government offices, including those of PUDA and Income Tax Department, have no provision other than the stairs to move to offices on the upper floor. Even the Municipal Corporation has not strictly got enforced the provisions to make all public places, including newly constructed showrooms and shopping centres, accessible to the physically challenged persons.

Advocate and activist Harleen Kaur said, "Even if some public places are accessible, the law mandates that the authorities have to provide wheelchairs and attendants to all those who need these services. But not everyone is complying. But, thankfully, because of the efforts of some social organisations, the elevators in the administrative complex and MC building are all working."

Ashok Sharma, a physically challenged lawyer, said, "The Disability Act stipulates that not just the government or semi-government offices, even privately owned public places have to be accessible. There are so many banks, marriage palaces and shopping malls in the city which are devoid of ramps. So, I cannot go to such places. They all have to maintain toilets for the disabled with low seats and supporting frames but not even government offices are equipped with this basic facility. I face a lot of issues while parking my vehicle. The staff of government offices do not allow me to park my scooter near the entrances saying that it is reserved for the cars of officers. This despite my telling that I have problem in walking. I have been fighting all my life and now I am tired of it".