42 year old Swathi looked outside the window as her family left to visit the local library. ‘Oh how I wish I could go too’, she thought wistfully, being an avid reader herself. A chronic, debilitating neurological condition had left her wheelchair-bound in her early thirties. Despite living in Bengaluru, an urban area of India equipped with advanced technology and resources, wheelchair accessibility was a struggle. Most local restaurants, libraries and retail outlets were not equipped with ramps and elevators for the disabled.
The Rights of Persons with Disabilities (RPwD) Act came into force in 2017 and suggested multiple reforms to make the society more inclusive for the disabled. Measures were introduced for inclusive public transport, public buildings, hospitals and schools. However, the implementation of the act in most regions has been slow and incomplete. Accessibility for most has still remained a dream for most cities in India.
December 3rd this year, the International Day of Persons with Disabilities, has arrived and will leave unnoticed. Today, the questions that arise are, how can a disabled individual enjoy a similar quality of life as a non-disabled individual? What can we do to protect their mental, emotional and physical well-being?
The way forward is to raise awareness and increase training of personnel involved, including architects, construction companies and shop owners to keep the well-being of the disabled in mind. The government must issue strict guidelines to ensure that new building projects should not be approved, unless they comply with provision of disabled-friendly facilities. Public transport including railway stations, bus stations and metro stations can be periodically assessed for wheelchair accessibility. Existing buildings must be renovated with ramps and elevators.
The most important measure being implementation of reforms to involve the disabled in society in more ways than one, with compassion and empathy. Cultural events, gatherings and workplaces must be inclusive, to enable them to thrive in their personal and professional life with dignity. In today’s fast-paced world, we must strive to support the disabled to lead life with confidence.