HT : 'How disabled-friendly are sports stadiums?' : Oct 23,2007

'How disabled-friendly are sports stadiums?'
 Chief commissioner of persons with disabilities wants some serious answers from Sports Authority of India
 Urvi Mahajani
Mumbai


 
IT TOOK a wheelchair-bound cricket fan with a special entry pass being denied entry to the India-Australia game at Wankhede Stadium last week - and a few HT reports - for the authorities to realise that our sports stadiums are not disabled-friendly.
HT had reported how Vilki Member (45), a trader from Charni Road, was not allowed to enter the stadium on October 17 despite a letter from Ravi Savant, vice-president of the Mumbai Cricket Association, saying that the wheelchair-bound Member would be allowed in (‘Promise broken, disabled man turned away from Wankhede', HT, October 18).
The chief commissioner of persons with disabilities has now issued a notice to the Sports Authority of India (SAI), asking the nodal agency to take stock of all stadiums to check if they are disabled friendly.
The letter, written by T.D. Dhariyal, deputy chief commissioner for persons with disabilities and issued to the SAI director general, says the chief commissioner has taken suo moto notice of the October 17 incident.
The letter has also been sent to the President, Board of Control for Cricket in India, Vice-President, Mumbai Cricket Association, Wankhede Stadium, Commissioner of Police, Mumbai and the Commissioner, disabilities, Maharashtra government.
The letter, a copy of which is with HT, states the chief commissioner has also noted the status of the access facilities for persons with disabilities at Wankhede Stadium, under various sections of the Persons With Disabilities (equal opportunities, protection of rights and full participation) Act, 1995. Non-implementation of the Act's provisions, especially Section 46 (see box) at Wankhede Stadium, meant Member was discriminated against, the letter says.
The chief commissioner has directed that necessary instructions be issued to all organisers of sports events and stadium owners to ensure disabled friendly venues.
Aids and appliances to enable persons with disabilities to reach the spot from where they can watch the sports event, like any other person, should be made available to them, the letter says. Matches should not be organised at venues that are inaccessible to persons with disabilities; the concerned staff including the police/security personnel at the venue should also be appropriately briefed on handling persons with disabilities with dignity, it adds.
The chief commissioner has asked SAI to submit an action taken report within two weeks.
urvi.mahajani@hindustantimes.com WHAT THE LAW SAYS Section 46 of the Persons With Disabilities Act says governments and local authorities shall, within the limits of their economic capacity and development, provide for... Ramps in public buildings Braille symbols and auditory signals in elevators or lifts Ramps in hospitals, primary health centres and other medical care and rehabilitation institutions.
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Publication : HT; Section : Metro; Pg : 3; Date : 23/10/07

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