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Crippling indifference More than 10
percent of Sri Lanka's population, over 1.5 million people are 'disabled'
according to the International Labour Organization. Accidents and
illnesses are now two major contributors to this number that's increasing
daily. With a halt to the war, our inability to effectively enforce
discipline as well as law and order on the roads for motorists and
pedestrians has become a major concern. Kidney and
heart diseases as well as strokes, are also now debilitating illnesses
of the younger generation. Hence the frightening
facts are that the chances of their occurring among the young are
now alarmingly on the increase in Sri Lanka. Fate, as we know, is
no respecter of persons and position, and the risks of anyone suddenly
becoming disabled are high. Disability
is not a medical problem. The outdated medical model identified
one's functional limitations, physical, sensory or mental as disabilities
and hence came that dismal term 'People with Disabilities'. This made society
believe that the problem lies with the individual and projected
a false negative image about the disabled. It also led
to dehumanising views, where the nature and severity of one's functional
limitations were stressed. It resulted in the segregation of people,
indicating that the disabled cannot do this and that like other
people, but are only 'differently able'. It also propagated prejudiced
attitudes about the disabled. Tragically,
local authorities have failed to initiate, implement and promote
awareness programmes through the media to educate the public on
these issues and to project a positive image of the disabled. This
is a major blow to the 1.5 million of us in this country in our
zest to be productive and resourceful citizens. Disability
is a grave social problem and a grievous human rights issue in Sri
Lanka. It is time that the people of Sri Lanka understand well and
truly what disability is and how one becomes a disabled person.
They could then actively support the disabled on the principles
of equality of opportunities and equality of treatment in all spheres
of daily living, which are still denied us. Disability
is a problem of exclusion and isolation through denial of opportunities
and legitimate rights. It is the outcome of society imposing 'structural
and attitudinal barriers' on people with physical, sensory or mental
functional limitations. These in turn
forcibly deny access to physical environments, goods, facilities
and services. Disability hence is the denial or restriction of activity
caused by outside society, which disregards and ignores functional
limitations people have. As the wearer
of these shoes for the past ten years, I know where it really hurts
us most and what really discrimination is. These critical needs
remain unresolved even after ten years of vociferous appealing.
They block
a good million people from becoming as independent as possible in
attending to our daily living activities and deny us the opportunity
to handle and solve even our day-to-day affairs. They shatter our
ambitions and expectations of gainful employment, access to knowledge,
recreation, travel, holidays, etc., facilities enjoyed by fellow
citizens in the same society and oppress our gaining socio-economic
stability. Wheelchair
users, who make up a good 0.6 million of the disabled, are the worst
affected. Once placed in such a state, we then are trapped in the
vicious cycle of marginalisation, poverty and social exclusion.
What we hear are sweet words and false promises. Over the past
ten years, have any of these critical problems been solved? What
percentage of gainful employment opportunities have been afforded
to the disabled, wheelchair users in particular? Almost nil. At which places
have barrier-free environments been made enabling access to available
facilities? Sadly nowhere. Which hotels and leisure centres can
proudly say that they now provide opportunities for recreation and
holidaying for wheelchair users? Hardly any. Even after
laws were passed, the authorities responsible have failed to implement
and enforce protection for a single right. We are at the end of
the Asian and Pacific Decade of the Disabled. What promised results
have we seen? Recently National Policies on Employment, Education
and Health were formulated and forwarded. To what extent have the
authorities acted to address the critical needs of the disabled
and safeguard our basic rights? It is agonising
for us to continue to receive 'deaf ears and blind eyes' to these
appeals. "There are none so blind and deaf as those who see
and hear, but do not perceive." We see an encouraging
contrast with respect to the armed services. Within just two years
of establishment, the Rana Viru Seva Authority has produced good
results in critical areas of need. That's because they have a clear
vision, and a team of dedicated people moving with a sense of urgency
and sincere commitment! However, as
these few critical issues concerning the disabled in civil society
remain unresolved, these gallant heroes too are unable to move freely
and mix equally with their dearest and nearest, other than in Ranaviru
Villages. We now need
the active support of each and every Sri Lankan. A good starting
point is to identify few key places in your city and town based
on business, educational, social, recreational, cultural, or religious
values. Then expeditiously
remove the existing structural barriers and welcome the disabled.
Business clubs and business establishments, NGOs and all social
services organisations, along with Municipal and Town Councils,
should help us, by including at least one such small project in
their annual calendar of activities. Presently we
only receive the active support of the print media. We also urgently
need TV stations on a regular basis, to project a positive image
of the disabled and to create in society, healthy attitudes. The
vital question is "Are the authorities, even now, willing to
afford us the opportunities?" |
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