While projects worth Rs 1800-crore in the 11th Five-Year Plan meant for the welfare of the physically challenged have not been started yet, the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment (SJE) has yet again earmarked Rs 3000-crore for new disability projects.

SJE Minister Kumari Selja who reviewed the implementation of the People with Disabilities Act with State Commissioners earlier this year, admitted to the delays. However, the ground situation remains rather grim. Most of these incomplete projects — like the Right to Education for the disabled, which has been a long-standing demand of the physically challenged community — still remain in limbo.

The task force constituted by the Ministry in 2010, to work out the details for the establishment of the proposed National Centre for Universal Design - to make the physical and academic environment disabled-friendly. Headed by Samir K. Brahmachari, Director General, Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, taskforce submitted its report in 2011, but the Ministry did not act in three years. Most Braille printing presses across the State are also dying a slow death because of outdated machinery and technology. An example being: the Malakpet Press - the only Braille printing press in Andhra Pradesh set-up in 1986 for producing textual learning material for the visually impaired — hasn’t been upgraded. The visually-challenged workers — who are facing job losses launched an online campaign called the savebraillepress.blogspot.com. While the Centre is promising to create new Braille presses, some like Malakpet are dying for want of moderisation.

“We know that there has been a delay and that is why this department of disability was carved out by MSJE in July 2012 to look into the gaps,” said a senior official from MSJE.

“While the concept note for Institute of Universal Design is ready and we are waiting to give it a physical shape, the other projects will take some time to take off,” said the official. “We have been hearing of the Universal Design Centre coming up every year but nothing much has moved,” he said.

“Money to the tune of several hundred crores was sanctioned for projects but has remained unutilised. This is in blatant violation of the disabled persons Right to Education,” said Anjlee Agarwal, director, NGO Samarthyam, who was also part of the task force for Universal Design Centre.

“Right to quality education is every person’s prerogative. Under the RTE, disabled should be included with the mainstream, but without Braille language books for the blind, and sign language interpreters for the deaf, quality education remains elusive to the challenged,” she said. Even Sminu Jindal, from Swayam, an NGO working for disabled said, “While enhanced reservations in education and jobs are welcome but unless the Government makes physical and academic infrastructure accessible, all this seems a farce.”

Source: Daily Pioneer