Odisha: Smooth access for disabled at Puri temple soon

BHUBANESWAR: In what may bring cheer to differently-abled devotees, the Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) in Puri has decided to make the 12th century shrine more accessible to them.
"We will soon come up with detailed guidelines for the smooth movement of persons with disabilities inside the temple. In the absence of enough ramps and other facilities until now, they find it difficult to move comfortably within the shrine and offer their prayers. We will see what best can be done for them. A first meeting is likely to be held on Saturday," a senior SJTA official told TOI.
The temple administration had in November 2015 installed a steel ramp at both of the shrine's northern gates extending up to Ananda Bazaar. Two wooden wheelchairs were also then made to take the physically handicapped devotees to the temple. However, the facilities have been lying unused as most of the devotees are not aware of their presence.
"First of all, many are unaware of the presence of the ramp, which does not connect to the main temple (Jagamohan area) from where one can catch a glimpse of the deities. The wheelchair can only go up to certain parts of the temple. From there, people like me need be carried on shoulders or in the arms by at least two men to reach the main temple," Prasanna Mohanty, a physically challenged person in Puri, said.