‘Make tourist spots disabled-friendly’

The Tamil Nadu Association for the Rights of All Types of Differently Abled and Caregivers (TARATDAC) has appealed to the government to provide disabled-friendly facilities in all tourist spots in the country.

Four resolutions were passed at the association’s State committee meeting held in Kanyakumari on Saturday. A resolution wanted the government to make all public facilities disabled-friendly. Investment should be made to create a barrier-free environment, State secretary S. Namburajan told The Hindu .

Representatives from various associations working for people with disabilities have been knocking at the doors of the government for making barrier-free environment a reality for them.

“Differently-abled persons do not want empathy or sympathy but want to be treated as equals,” he said.

Barrier-free tourism facilities should be created in all tourist spots, he added.

“Millions of differently-abled persons travel across the world every year. But a very few come to India. We need to make our tourist destinations disabled-friendly and the States should work towards this not as a favour, but to enhance their business prospects, Mr. Namburajan said.

Resolutions

The government should resume distribution of monthly assistance to the differently-abled and arrears for the period of non payment.

The Union government should release the required funds for the MGNREGS in which employment should be ensured for the differently-abled, said another resolution passed at the meeting.

Procedures for issuing identity cards to the differently-abled through Primary Health Centres should be relaxed.

Since the differently abled persons were running from pillar to post to get ID cards in Kanyakumari district, they must be given after necessary medical tests at one place, a release from TARATDAC said.