Watching Games may be a long haul for the disabled

Despite all the stadia for the Commonwealth Games 2010 being made barrier free for enabling the disabled and those with reduced mobility to watch the international sporting event, there is a grave risk that India may not be able to project its disabled-friendly image properly since inadequate alighting arrangements for such people near the Games venues would dissuade many of them from visiting the stadia.

The issue has been raised by Sanjeev Sachdeva, director of Sanjeevni, who has carried out access audits of various infrastructure projects such as the Delhi Metro, and buildings and premises such as the Dilli Haat. Mr. Sachdeva has noted with concern that while special parking facilities have been provided for the VVIP’s, Organising Committee members and officials, and ministers, senior bureaucrats and other selected dignitaries, but no such arrangements have been planned for persons with disabilities.

“No clear cut area has so far been marked as reserved alighting and safe zone for people with disabilities -- especially those with with mobility impairments -- and persons with reduced mobility which comprise senior citizens, families with young children and pregnant women,” he said. Noting that “due to security reasons” the general parking has been kept at an average distance of between 500 metres and a kilometre from the stadia, he said, it would be extremely difficult for people with reduced mobility or those carrying them to cover such long distances.

Delhi has been built seven times, but on this the eighth occasion, for the first time a lot of emphasis has been laid on making the sidewalks, roads and buildings, including the stadia, barrier free, Mr. Sachdeva said. He, therefore, demanded that without compromising on the security, such people should be provided with easy access to the stadia. Mr. Sachdeva has in a letter to Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit also suggested that special buses with hydraulic lifts, such as those owned by non-government organisations like AADI, Amar Jyoti and EOC University of Delhi, should be used for taking disabled and persons with reduced mobility from the parking lot to the stadium and back.

Also, there should be shuttle buses between various stadia to facilitate movement of passengers from one Games venue to the other. For the benefit of the visually impaired the main gate should be painted in bright colours (preferably yellow or red) for easy identification, he added.

Mr. Sachdeva has also suggested that special parking labels be issued by the traffic police to vehicles owned and registered in the name of persons with disabilities. These people should be told to apply for stickers and all the security regulations such as verification of disability certificate, need for an escort, and verification of other documents should be done at least two months before the Games to avoid any kind of inconvenience. “People with disabilities also have an equal right to watch and participate in the Commonwealth Games,” said Mr. Sachdeva.