Every year, to mark World Disability Day, members of Vidya Sagar and Disability Rights Alliance India work with the city Corporation to set up a temporary pathway on the Marina Beach that is accessible to those with disabilities.
The pathway being set up on the beach
Chennai:
After the city Police Commissioner assured to look into the matter, the disability rights activists passed on the information to the Deputy Commissioner (Works) and the Executive Engineer of the Corporation, who assured them that the pathway would be set up by Sunday night to ensure that people with reduced mobility can start going to the beach from morning on Monday, the World Disability Day.
“However, the Corporation received a notice again, asking it to refrain from carrying out the work, which came as a great disappointment,” said Smitha Sadasivan, an activist, recalling how they had to run from pillar to post to get permission.
Though the students from the Vidya Sagar used to be taken together to the beach on World Disability Day, this time the school had planned to spilt them into batches – three batches on Monday and two on Tuesday – due to the problems.
“We were angry due to the lack of any effort from the police. We were not asking for any favour, we are only claiming what is our right. Besides, we need the pathway for a longer duration and not just one day so that all students from Vidya Sagar as well as Persons with Disabilities (PwDs), pregnant women and elderly from across Chennai can access the beach at different timings and not necessarily gather at the same time,” she added.
Stating that accessibility to this International tourist spot cannot be denied to PwDs, she added, “Ideally, an accessible and safe pathway should have been there without us asking for it. It is the duty of the State to ensure accessibility for PwDs at any public place and that of the police to offer protection.”
Speaking to DT Next, Commissioner AK Viswanathan said, “Due to the court order, there was some reluctance. However, we issued the permission to the Corporation to make the ramp. Now it is their responsibility to carry out the work.”
The Corporation has promised to take up and finish the work immediately –likely by Sunday night.
This time, the approval for setting this up was delayed till Saturday evening, reportedly due to an order by the Madras High Court against events being held at the beach.
After the city Police Commissioner assured to look into the matter, the disability rights activists passed on the information to the Deputy Commissioner (Works) and the Executive Engineer of the Corporation, who assured them that the pathway would be set up by Sunday night to ensure that people with reduced mobility can start going to the beach from morning on Monday, the World Disability Day.
“However, the Corporation received a notice again, asking it to refrain from carrying out the work, which came as a great disappointment,” said Smitha Sadasivan, an activist, recalling how they had to run from pillar to post to get permission.
Though the students from the Vidya Sagar used to be taken together to the beach on World Disability Day, this time the school had planned to spilt them into batches – three batches on Monday and two on Tuesday – due to the problems.
“We were angry due to the lack of any effort from the police. We were not asking for any favour, we are only claiming what is our right. Besides, we need the pathway for a longer duration and not just one day so that all students from Vidya Sagar as well as Persons with Disabilities (PwDs), pregnant women and elderly from across Chennai can access the beach at different timings and not necessarily gather at the same time,” she added.
Stating that accessibility to this International tourist spot cannot be denied to PwDs, she added, “Ideally, an accessible and safe pathway should have been there without us asking for it. It is the duty of the State to ensure accessibility for PwDs at any public place and that of the police to offer protection.”
Speaking to DT Next, Commissioner AK Viswanathan said, “Due to the court order, there was some reluctance. However, we issued the permission to the Corporation to make the ramp. Now it is their responsibility to carry out the work.”
The Corporation has promised to take up and finish the work immediately –likely by Sunday night.