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Shortcomings still remain for a totally disabled-friendly environment
The current development within Colombo city is yet to address the disabled persons’ right of mobility, says National Council for Persons with Disabilities (NCPD), Director M.D.C. Jayamanne. Under the act of protection of the rights of disabled persons, the national council was established to ensure the protection, promotion and advancement of the rights of disabled persons. He said that the ministry, along with the council, appreciates the efforts made by the Colombo Municipal Council (CMC) for the betterment of the disabled, but the disabled community has not yet been able to access the city areas on their own, due to ineffective planning.
“Though Kollupitiya and Bambalapitiya have been developed into a disabled-friendly environment, still, certain aspects have not been specifically implemented, such as user friendly bus stops, trees in the middle of footpaths, manholes not properly covered, where the blind can trip and fall due to such negligence,” said Mr Jayamanne.
He said that, according to a Cabinet decision, all State institutions should allocate a separate amount from their budget to improve their environment, to suit the convenience of the disabled. The Social Services Ministry will coordinate with such institutions in their efforts.
Meanwhile, Dr Ajith C.S. Perera who has been campaigning for the complete implementation of circulars issued regarding accessibility for disabled persons in public areas, said at the hearing of his FR Petition on June 17, he prayed to include “reconstructions and renovations” of public buildings to be extended to the Supreme Court order given on April 27, 2011, which was that, all parts of new public buildings and places, especially toilets and washroom facilities as defined in the accessibility regulations of 2006 October.
The Supreme Court requested the Attorney General to follow up with the Social Services Ministry to ensure all circulars issued by the ministry regarding establishment of accessibility for the disabled at government buildings, should also be communicated to the private sector.
Dr Perera said that, the reason to seek the jurisdiction of the apex court to protect the inherent right to access to public buildings of all victims with restricted mobility, including the elderly, convalescing, pregnant and war victims, was to rectify the failures in dormant mechanisms and poor monitoring methods by the violators of regulations in the State and non-State sectors, for the larger interest of the country.“Establishing accessibility for all human beings is a feasible low cost investment. It will break barriers and open doors for an inclusive society for everyone, regardless of the degree of their ability,” explained Dr. Perera.
He said, the Courts in April 2011, have recognised that people have different levels of ability to move freely, and that many, especially the growing number of seniors (13.1%), pregnant, convalescing, disabled persons – estimated around 25% of the population, thus exceeding 4 million people, are restricted in their movement, but yet the majority of them are still productive and need opportunities not charity.
“As such, no person should be discriminated or marginalised by manmade barriers, ignoring this inevitable diversity in human ability. Regardless of the degree of mobility, everyone should be given an environment to equally enjoy their inherent fundamental right to access, and this in turn will enable everyone to enjoy meaningfully their rights to education, employment, and recreation.” added Dr. Perera.Furthermore, he explained that smaller changes that can be made rightly to the ongoing renovations and reconstructions in Hotels and Health Sectors are a second opportunity that cannot be missed in not doing what the laws forbid, but complying with the laws and standards. In addition, he said that Sri Lanka can no more prolong violations of laws with ongoing constructions, if not the wasted resources, along with aggravated social and economic issues, will plague the country in untold proportions.
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