Physically challenged seek facilities

BANGALORE: Based on the State Government’s recommendation, over 25 NGOs and organisations dealing with physically challenged citizens, got together at a State-level conference.The conference was aimed at creating about the various concerns facing the entire physically challenged community.They arrived at a consensus and will be voicing their four demands before the State government. The event also served as a platform to figure out their demands. “Our community was provided free bus passes to commute across the State in the year 2000. But soon after that the cost of bus passes became `250 for us and the passes were limited to travelling only 100 kms. Now the cost has escalated to `550. There are lakhs of disabled people and they need to travel around for work. Our important demand is to have free bus passes,” said Prashant Kumar, Senior Vice President of the groups.The groups will further place their demand for free vocation education from the government. “The community is given free education by NGOs. But we are asking for computer training and other vocational training programs to be provided for free for our group,” he said.Various groups of physically challenged citizens across the State have been asking for a common conference hall. “For the last ten years, we have been requesting for a common platform like a conference hall. But this demand has not been fulfilled. We want this hall to conduct vocational training classes, free education camps and a hall where all the issues we face can be discussed,” said a member of    an NGO.  The group has also sought all government offices and hospitals to construct ramps and treatment to be provided on the ground floor. “Even today, at many places, there is no facility for us to reach the second and third floors. There are no ramps. This is a basic and justified demand we have,” said a panelist.Based on the 1995 Act of the Rights of the physically challenged, the group headed by KV Rajanna inaugurated these registered organisations and will now be taking their demands with the government.