June 26, 2019
Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) is all set to introduce a
wheelchair ramp at Besant Nagar Beach in the city and the works are beginning
soon. Disability rights groups have mixed responses for this new initiative
which is expected to be completed by end of July.
Chennai is known for its beaches. Marina beach, one of the
world’s longest beaches, is also located at the capital city of Tamil Nadu.
Besant Nagar and Elliott’s beach adds to
the charisma and beauty of the city. Last world disability day on 3
December, civic body had installed a temporary wheelchair ramp at
Marina beach for wheelchair users who never had the chance to witness a
beach. It did turn out to be successful with many wheelchair users turning up
to check out the beach. After its success, the Greater Chennai
Corporation (GCC) is gearing up to install a permanent
ramp at the famous Besant Nagar beach. Reportedly, this ramp is going
to lead wheelchair users till the shores of the beach so that they can enjoy
the cool breeze and waters. This is indeed a great move but has got mixed
responses from disability rights groups from across the city.
GCC claims that they are going to construct the ramp by July and the
construction work will be completed within a few weeks. Officials point out
that environment friendly materials will be used for the
construction which will come under the government’s Swadesh
Darshan scheme. Wooden platforms and rolling
rubber mats will be used for the ramps which will adhere to the
standard size. It will begin from the Ashtalakshmi temple
and extend till the shore. Officials claim that they are not leaving any
stone unturned to ensure that the ramp is going to be strong and
long-lasting.
Installing a ramp does not put an end to the facilities that must be provided
to wheelchair users. Disability rights groups says that kiosks, accessible
washrooms and free drinking water must be made available to wheelchair users
can visit the beach without any hassles.
TMN Deepak, a disability rights activist from Chennai and
founder of 3 December movement says that
civic officials have given numerous promises like this before. So wheelchair
users have no option but to wait until this ramp is made a reality.
I have my fingers crossed. I prefer to discuss about something like this
after it is introduced. I’am positive about a wheelchair ramp at a famous
beach like Besant Nagar because there has been considerable push from the
disability sector. But people are discussing about why the ramp is
introduced in Besant Nagar and not Marina which is a even more popular
beach. Officials have promised to open the ramp by September. Such things
in favour of disabled community happens once in a blue moon and is indeed a
silver lining. We hope to see more beaches across the city being made
inclusive. For now, let’s wait and see how well this is going to be
implemented-TMN Deepak, Founder, 3 December Movement
According to disability rights groups, GCC should have chosen Marina beach
instead of Besant Nagar beach due to a handful of reasons. One of the main
ones being that Marina is a world-renowned beach. Thousands of people from
across the world visit the beach, and hence it must be made accessible
without fail.
Satish Kumar from Chennai who is a wheelchair user, has been
the part of Beach Accessible Programme that works on making
all beaches across Chennai accessible and inclusive.
“We have been working on this for the past three years. Temporary ramps are
built on occasions like world disability day and that is not enough. We do
not understand why officials failed to make world renowned Marina beach
accessible. Besant Nagar beach is smaller and there are many limitations.
Like for instance, there is a large number of fishermen community who lives
there. The beach is often congested because of nearby religious places too
and people thronging to the beach. Once the ramp is implemented, it is
important to maintain it well which is of utmost importance”, says Kumar.
If all goes well, the ramps will be open to wheelchair users by end of July.
As far as wheelchair users and activists are concerned, still many questions
from GCC remains unanswered.
ALSO READ: Top 10 wheelchair accessible beaches of the world!
Source: https://newzhook.com/story/22643
