21 govt schools on way to become disabled-friendly in Chandigarh

As many as 21 government schools in Chandigarh are on their way to become more disabled-friendly as the construction work is on to build ramps at the schools. Currently, out of the 115 government schools in UT, only 54 have ramp facilities for children with special needs (CWSN). Also, only 47 of the 115 have disabled-friendly toilets. As many as 3,917 physically-challenged children have been enrolled in the government schools.

The above numbers were shared in a report by the UT social welfare department to the chief commissioner for persons with disabilities (CCPD), Kamlesh Kumar Pandey, at a meeting held on Thursday.  

UT chief engineer Mukesh Anand told Pandey that ramps will be made in a total of 75 schools. The remaining schools, where ramp construction is not possible, have been instructed to shift the classes of physically-challenged students to the ground floor, and ask the engineering department to make the way to classes barrier-free, the report says.

Public transport, buildings also following through

The report said 358 low floor buses with ramp facility have been purchased by the transport department. Two seats have been kept reserved for PwDs. ISBTs in Sectors 17 and 43 have been made disabled-friendly with facility of separate toilet, ramps and wheelchairs. Free travel facility is also provided within tricity along with an attendant for blind person and thallassemic children. 

Also, 40 buildings have been made barrier-free under Sugamya Bharat Abhiyan, the report says. 

Moreover, only one mobile court was held in the city to deal with complaints related to the physically-challenged persons and 13 complaints were received and disposed of.