The lockdown in Delhi has ended and most Museums have opened. There is a mind-boggling 51 museums in Delhi and people are increasingly visiting them.
The following popular museums in Delhi were visited:
- National Rail Museum
- Bhai Mati Das Museum
- Indian Crafts Museum
- Old Fort - Purana Qila Museum
- The First War of Independence 1857 Museum
- Ajadi Ke Diwane Museum
- DrishyaKala Museum
- Jalianwala Museum
- Swachhta Museum
- Netaji Subhash INA Museum
and the following was checked:
- The accessibility of the main entrance.
- The availability of ramps at various places.
- The accessibility of the washroom/toilet.
- The accessibility of the parking space.
- The availability of Tactile features for the Visually-Impaired.
Here are the findings of the various accessibility features at the museums listed above.
1. National Rail Museum
This museum had every accessibility feature right from the parking and the washroom and toilets and all around in the museum.
The souvenir shop was not accessible via a ramp.
All the exhibits were accessible via a ramp.
The parking was accessible via a ramp.
The cafeteria was accessible via a huge ramp
The level-changing across the rails over which the train engine and bogies were displayed was accessible.
2. Bhai Mati Das Museum
This museum failed the accessibility check as there was no ramp or elevator to enter the museum.
Moreover, the museum was closed so the internal areas could not be checked for accessibility.
3. Indian Crafts Museum
This museum passed the accessibility check and there was every kind of accessibility feature from ramps to wheelchairs available.
Washroom/toilet was not accessible and also
One of the galleries was not accessible.
4. Old Fort - Purana Qila Museum
This museum failed the accessibility check and there was no ramp or elevator to enter the museum.
5. The First War of Independence 1857 Museum
The internal area was leveled off for the easy movement of a wheelchair.
No ramp at the entrance.
The washroom/toilet was accessible via a ramp.
6. Ajadi Ke Diwane Museum
The internal area was leveled off for the easy movement of a wheelchair.
No ramp at the entrance.
The washroom/toilet was accessible via a ramp.
7. DrishyaKala Museum
The internal area was leveled off for the easy movement of a wheelchair.
No ramp at the entrance.
The washroom/toilet was accessible via a ramp.
8. Jalianwala Museum
The internal area was leveled off for the easy movement of a wheelchair.
No ramp at the entrance.
The washroom/toilet was accessible via a ramp.
The staircase had railings.
9. Swachhta Museum
The washroom/toilet was accessible via a ramp.
Ramp at the main entrance and at all other entrances.
All the exhibits were accessible via a ramp.
The souvenir shop was accessible via a ramp.
The area around the museum that exhibited murals and metal relief exhibits was leveled-off to ease the movement of a wheelchair.
**10.**Netaji Indian Nation Army Museum
The internal area was leveled off for the easy movement of a wheelchair.
No ramp at the entrance.
The washroom/toilet was accessible via a ramp.
The staircase had railings.
Conclusion
Museums in Delhi are fully geared towards embracing the differently-abled in Delhi and though there were a few discontinuities, helpful people were always available nearby to ease the experience of the differently-abled.
This meetup was conducted as part of the Accessibility for All movement.
Here’s the invite link for the meetup.
BR,
Tushar Suradkar
Delhi.
