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When crutches and legs marched together |
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By: Hemal Ashar |
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Date:
2009-04-10 |
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Place:Mumbai |
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Hemal Ashar joins Mumbai's differently abled as they make their presence felt as a vote bank
Wheelchairs stood next to swanky cars and crutches marked time with legs as a clutch of physically challenged persons and supporters held a Solidarity March from Eros cinema to Azad Maidan yesterday. They had come together to draw the attention of political parties to "the disabled vote".
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Chhoti si asha: A girl talks to a disabled boy during the Solidarity March from Eros theatre to Azad Maidan yesterday. PIC/NARENDRA DANGIYA | Pointing out that disabled persons in India do not have civil rights in reality, Mithu Alur, founder and chairperson, ADAPT, said, "We want the Right to Education, the Right to Employment and the Right to Health. Disability issues should be included in the manifestoes of all parties. A national disability advisor working within the PMO would help."
Deepa Malik, a special Olympian confined to a wheelchair, reiterated this, saying one only has to glance around to see how excluded the disabled are from the mainstream. "Most buildings do not even have ramps for wheelchairs," she elaborated.
First victory
A major step has been taken in this direction with the SC ruling that these elections have to be made disabled-friendly. All EVMs will now have Braille lists and stickers to enable the visually impaired to vote.
This means the blind "can vote alone and their confidentiality is assured for the first time", said S Karnik, honorary secretary, National Association for the Blind.
Advocate K Pamnani, who is blind, said, "This ruling brings the disabled into the mainstream. For the first time, we feel like we are as much a part of India as anyone else. But the real test will come when one goes to the polling booth and sees how disabled-friendly they actually are."
What next?
The next step, they said, was to make all civic infrastructure and public buildings disabled friendly.
Shrey Ghouse, who lost his leg in an accident, asked, "Can you imagine what would happen if a disabled person tried to board a local train during rush hour?"
Said Pamnani, "I can't even walk on the road near my house, as there is no footpath."
Making it clear that they want opportunity, not sympathy, a blind Ketan Kothari said, "Let the parties begin by listening to the disabled." |
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