August 20, 2019
For the first time, the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has
drafted an advisory for states emphasising the need to make public transport
disabled-friendly. Which is welcome but the advisory says this should apply
to 25% of vehicles when the RPWD Act says 100%.
As a part of the Accessible India Campaign, comes a first of its
kind move from the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways,
which has asked all states to make at least 25% of their bus fleet and
private passenger vehicles more accessible for people with disabilities. A
ministry official said that this will make it easier for disabled people to
travel.
The advisory says:
Under the Union government guidelines, there should be adequate number of
wheelchairs, visible and marked spaces at all bus stops/ports/terminals,
adequate handrails and human assistance and audio-visual info systems for
passengers who are visually-impaired as well as hard of hearing. There should
also be an emergency button near designated seats.
However, the advisory has raised more questions than answers. Specifically
why it has laid down a 25% specification when the Rights of Persons
with Disabilities Act mandates that 100% of all public transport
should be accessible.
Among the first to question this advisory was disability rights advocate and
CEO, Nipman Foundation Nipun Malhotra. It
was thanks to his persistent efforts that the Supreme Court of
India recently passed ruled that the government of Delhi must
procure only low floor accessible buses and not standard floor.
Find it weird that the Centre would issue an advisory to states to make 25%
public transport accessible when the law categorically mentions 100%. The
funny thing is the advisory has no value – courts look at laws, not random
advisories. But why have one contradicting your laws at all? –
Nipun Malhotra, CEO, Nipman Foundation
Over two years after the RPWD Act came in force, many key provisions are
still pending and this advisory will make little, if at all, any difference.
Most states are yet to even notify the Act and there is resistance when the
lapses are brought to their notice.Take for instance the resistance put up by
the Aam Aadmi Party-led government in Delhi to procure low
floor, wheelchair friendly accessible buses for the Delhi Transport
Corporation (DTC). Even Kerala, which is held up as a benchmark when
it comes to accessibility, has done poorly in this regard. The state
government faced much criticism over its move to withdraw wheelchair friendly
bus services.
Prajith Jaipal, Founder of the NGO
Divyang Foundation, says such basic lack of facilities for
disabled people is a major barrier for the community.
“It is high time that bus services and all means of public transport become
wheelchair friendly. In Kerala, the low floor buses that were wheelchair
friendly were closed recently and this is a major problem that needs to be
addressed especially now that we regard ourselves as a developed nation”.
More than the disability, it is the lack of basic access to transport that
truly disabled the community, says Dr Ketna Mehta of the NGO
Nina Foundation, which works to empower people with spinal
cord injuries.
“It is a pathetic situation that young talented friends with disability have
to stay cooped up without the provision of public transport and the physical
environment not being disabled-friendly”, says Dr Mehta. “Whether it is
schools, colleges, workplaces coaching classes or recreational sports
activities, nothing is accessible with dignified mobility. This makes people
with disabilities dependent on travelling by expensive taxis which burdens
them and deters a full life”.
It’s not enough for buses to be made accessible, say experts. The supporting
infrastructure has to be made accessible too. “The footpaths must have a even
surface for wheelchairs with kerb cuts and no bollards to travel from
home/work place to bus stop”, says Dr Mehta. “Each and every bus must have a
folding ramp with wide doors for easy access. There should be two fixed slots
for wheelchair parking and safety locks for protection from jerks and
brakes”.
There also needs to be sensitisation done of the bus staff to ensure disabled
passengers are supported adequately. In India, where pavement access is
marred by shops and other encroachments, there needs to be good civic
management as well.
Ensuring seamless travel by public transport requires a change of mindset on
many fronts and on the part of multiple agencies. An advisory alone may not
be enough and needs to be followed by a larger plan of action.
Source: https://newzhook.com/story/ministry-advisory-on-accessible-public-transport-raises-questions
