Thursday, March 01, 2018

CABE conducted an Access Sensitisation Workshop for North Municipal Corporation of Delhi

Picture of Sh. TD Dhariyal, State Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities  for Govt. of Delhi explaining the mandate of RPWD Act 2016 during the Access Sensitization workshop

Sh. TD Dhariyal, State Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities 
for Govt. of Delhi explaining the mandate of RPWD Act 2016
01 Mar 2018, New Delhi

On an invitation from the North Municipal Corporation of Delhi, CABE Team today organised an Access Sensitisation Workshop for the Senior Engineers and Architects of the North MCD in presence of the State Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities Sh. TD Dhariyal. Incidentally, the North MCD is also facing notices from the Court of State Commissioner for inaccessibility of sidewalks, street infrastructure, public toilets and office buildings. Hon'ble Delhi High Court has also made strong observations in a public interest litigation filed by Sh. Nipun Malhotra against different civic bodies. The training was organised in this context so that the concerned officials were sensitised and trained on the mandate of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act  2016 and the accessibility requirements under the law and guidelines.


Picture 1 of Attendees at the Access Sensitization workshop
Fig A. Senior Engineers and Architects of the Corporation attending the Workshop

Picture 2 of participants at the workshop showing Senior Engineers and Architects of the Corporation
Fig B. Senior Engineers and Architects of the Corporation attending the Workshop

Picture 3 of the participants attending the workshop
Fig. Sh. Amor Kool detailing the importance of Universal Design while planning and renovating infrastructure. 

The Rights of Persons with Disabilities, 2016 and the Rules notified by the Govt. of India thereunder require the Public Authorities to meet the mandate of accessibility in public infrastructure and transportation within five years of the notification while for organisations (both private and public) need to make their services accessible within two years of the notification of the Act. It has already a year since the law has passed and the ground reality presents a grim picture. Unless the municipalities and Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) immediately incorporate and adopt an Action Plan / Strategy Document for achieving the mandate of accessibility for the areas under their jurisdiction, it will be too late.

The RPWD Act 2016 presents an opportunity before the ULBs and developmental agencies to adopt Accessibility Plans for their areas for time bound implementation to promote inclusive communities in addition to smart cities. The time to act is now, before it is too late.