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Disability Rights Advocacy In India

"People may not fully understand science or the depth of your genius, but you are a symbol of human hope personifying the triumph of human spirit over matter."
--India's President K.R. Narayanan talking to British physicist Stephen Hawking during his January 15, 2001 visit to India

2001
January 10: High Court Orders Committee To Stop Stalling On Employment
February 20: Hawking's Visit Had Powerful Impact On Accessibility
April 17: Protesters Demand To Be Represented
July 17: Activists Disrupt Traffic To Deliver Message
December 26: Taj Mahal: Seventh Wonder Of The World Lacks Accessibility

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High Court Orders Committee To Stop Stalling On Employment
By Dave Reynolds, Inclusion Daily Express
January 10, 2001

NEW DELHI, INDIA--Since 1986, the list of government jobs for which people with disabilities can be considered has been updated every three years. That is, it was supposed to have been updated every three years.

Recently, Mr. Harish Salve, the Solicitor (Attorney) General, informed India's Supreme Court that the list has not been updated for several years. An "expert committee" was formed in 1998 to revise the list. That committee was reorganized in 1999 to finish revising the list. Since then, three more subcommittees were set up.

The update still has not been completed.

In fact, the list may not have been updated at all since 1995, when India's Parliament passed the Persons With Disabilities Act, which included legislation to promote equal opportunities, protection of rights and full participation.

The problem was brought to the court's attention last week, during a hearing for a "visually handicapped person" who had not been allowed to test for a job through the Banking Service Recruitment Board.

The court responded by saying that the bureaucrats "had destroyed the noble intention" of the Parliament. "This is a typical case of how the laudable objects of Parliament in enacting the Persons With Disabilities Act, is being defeated by the nonimplementation of the Act," the court wrote.

The court gave the committee three months to do the job. Maneka Gandhi, the Social Justice and Empowerment Minister, assured the Solicitor General that the task will be completed in that time frame.

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Hawking's Visit Had Powerful Impact On Accessibility
By Dave Reynolds, Inclusion Daily Express
February 20, 2001

CHENNAI, INDIA--In academic circles, British physicist Stephen Hawking is considered one of the most influential scientists of our time.

In India, he is now being considered one of the most influential people among the disability community -- even though this may not have been his intention.

A month ago, Professor Hawking, who has what is commonly known as "Lou Gehrig's Disease" and uses a wheelchair, visited India. While there, he traveled to several universities and even met with President K.R. Narayanan.

Before the visit, disability rights advocates pointed out that many of the places Hawking planned to visit were not accessible. The Archaeological Society of India (ASI) didn't see too much of a problem with this. They had selected a number of people to physically carry the famous scientist from place to place.

Finally, at the last minute, ASI and the Ministry of Family Welfare and Social Justice changed their minds and ordered ramps to be built. Not only that, they put the Institute for the Physically Handicapped in charge of the project.

Now, several people who have been leading the way for accessibility for years are hopeful that Hawking's visit signaled a turning point in the struggle for a more accessible India.

"People may not fully understand science or the depth of your genius, but you are a symbol of human hope personifying the triumph of human spirit over matter," President K.R. Narayanan told Hawking during his January 15 visit.

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Protesters Demand To Be Represented
By Dave Reynolds, Inclusion Daily Express
April 17, 2001

NEW DELHI, INDIA--Protesters gathered outside the Prime Minister's residence on Saturday and called for the government to place a person with a disability in the position of Chief Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities.

"On one hand we are told to join the mainstream and be part of the decision-making process," said Disabled Rights Group organizer Javed Abidi, "on the other hand responsibilities are not entrusted upon us."

The chief commissioner job has been vacant for the past five months. Disability rights advocates are concerned that the four-member committee assembled by the government to find a replacement does not represent people with disabilities and will appoint a bureaucrat that does not understand their issues.

The group, which included members of India's Blind Persons Association and the Spastics Society of Northern India, delivered a memo outlining their concerns and demanded a meeting with the Prime Minister.

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Activists Disrupt Traffic To Deliver Message
July 17, 2001

HUBLI, INDIA--A group of disability rights activists rallied Monday to deliver to the government a list of demands and to send to the public the message that they want their rights respected.

Members of the North Karnataka Physically Handicapped Persons' Sports and Welfare Society disrupted traffic in the city to get the message across that they want their rights to be safeguarded.

Tuesday's India Times has more details:
http://www.timesofindia.com/170701/17mban39.htm

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Taj Mahal: Seventh Wonder Of The World Lacks Accessibility
December 26, 2001

AGRA, INDIA-- The beautiful Taj Mahal is one of the most easily recognized monuments in the world. The Seventh Wonder of the World, it was built in the early 1600s by Emperor Shah Jehan as a tomb for his beloved wife, Arjumand Banu.

The Taj Mahal is also one of the most visited places in all of India.

This Sunday, a delegation representing India's National Centre for Promotion of Employment for Disabled toured the site to get a first-hand look at how accessible the structure is to visitors who have disabilities. Their conclusion: "It’s a totally helpless situation for persons with disabilities at the Taj," said Laurel Van Horn, an accessibility expert from the U.S. who accompanied the team.

Sanjay Rawat, who uses a wheelchair, said of the visit, "I should say it’s a memorable day for some bitter experiences."

Wednesday's Deccan Herald ran this article on the delegation's audit:
"Disabled Visitors Find Taj Mahal Inaccessible"
http://www.deccanherald.com/deccanherald/dec26/n5.htm

For more information on the Taj Mahal, including a virtual tour, check out this website:
http://www.taj-mahal.net

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