Kerala - Kochi   

Charter of demands by physically challenged

The Prathyasha Charitable Foundation, the Kochi-based voluntary organisation working for the betterment of the life of physically challenged persons, has put forward a `charter of demands,' highlighting the issues and needs of the physically challenged persons.

The `charter,' including 28 points, was drawn up at the valedictory session of the recently concluded week-long programmes organised by Prathysasha to mark World Disabled Day.

The demands include provisions to make public spaces accessible not only for the disabled persons, but also for the elderly people, pregnant women and children. All public spaces including railway stations, bus stands, places of worship, schools, colleges, hospitals and other places should be made accessible to all groups of people irrespective of their physical status.

The meeting also demanded that short people should also be recognised as disabled persons. Another major demand was to ensure the three percent job reservation for physically challenged persons in cooperative sector, aided schools and colleges. Ensuring that the appointments were made in a regular manner by appointing a committee with majority of disabled persons was also demanded. It was also suggested that the director board of the Disabled Persons' Welfare Corporation should have a majority of disabled persons.

Moving the Government offices for the welfare of disabled persons to the ground floor of buildings was another demand. Giving special consideration to able-bodied persons marrying disabled persons like in the case of steps taken to promote inter-caste and inter-religious marriages was another point.

The valedictory session was inaugurated by E.S.Jayakumar, a physically challenged person, who is a member of Udayamperoor Panchayat.

Mr. Jayakumar had won the election as an independent. Prathyasha Foundation chairman Simon George distributed sewing machines to 10 economically backward, physically challenged women.

RENU RAMANATH

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