One of the first questions that pops up in my mind before I visit a new place is “whether the place accessible for disabled or not”. Why so, you may ask.
Well, I joined the league of disabled in the year 2000. On October 28 2000, I met with a motor accident. Consequently, I had to amputate my left leg below the knee. Although I struggled initially, I have become as comfortable as can be walking with an artificial limb.
I may not in need of wheel chair, but I know the difficulties faced by wheel chair users all too well. That is why I try to find out whether the place I am visiting is disabled friendly or not.
I have been living in Kochi, the commercial capital as well as a prominent tourist city in Kerala for nearly 33 years.
Here, very few public places are disabled friendly. I am part of a team led by Prof. N.R.Menon and we are trying to persuade authorities, and we have had some success in that regard.
I am a journalist working with Mathrubhumi, a prominent Malayalam (the local language of Kerala) Daily in Kochi. In 2018, Mathrubhumi came forward to sponsor the “Divyang Jan Project” to make public places disabled friendly. Through this project, Ernakulam Junction Railway Station got portable ramps wheel chair users to board train compartments, “Divyang Jan” Facility Centre, disabled friendly restrooms etc. The station already had Electric Buggie car sponsored by St Theresa’s College, Ernakulam. Ms. Virali Modi, a wheelchair user and a champion of such causes, inaugurated the project at Ernakulam Junction Railway station.
Later the railway station in the nearby city of Thrissur was also made disabled friendly as part of this project.
Let all of us be part of the accessibility auditing to help our friends
Sharing some of the pictures of the function at Ernakulam South Railway Station in this post as well.