Mumbai rallies for more inclusive community

Mumbai: A protest pushing for a two-year campaign to make Mumbai’s public spaces accessible to the disabled, senior citizens, pregnant women, mothers with young children, or people with temporary disabilities drew a wide section of society.

Hundreds of residents, including people with disabilities and some of the city’s most prominent writers, artists, filmmakers and activists converged at Kala Ghoda to protest against the denial of one of the most fundamental rights — the right to live and move freely about their city. In attendance were over 100 people in wheelchairs besides celebrities like Dia Mirza, Kalki Kochelin, Shobha De and Anil Dharker as well as civic and government officials.

Organised by the Adapt Rights Group, the activist wing of the former Spastics Society of India, the campaign tagged ‘Mumbai Rising for Disability Access — We are people too’ is asking the authorities to provide answers to several questions. Organisers asked: “Is it possible to lock out millions of people in a city from accessing the most basic facilities? Would the Constitution and the law of the nation allow it?”

Organisers claim that millions of people undergo blatant discrimination right in the heart of Mumbai. “If you are in a wheelchair, you’ll find over 90 per cent of the city in lockdown, in a curfew for you. It’s not much different if you are a senior citizen, or a mother who likes to carry her baby in a pram, or are suffering from temporary disability due to an accident.”

Activists said addressing the problem only requires simple and inexpensive solutions. “Ramps don’t cost much. Escalators, elevators and adjusted toilets are a one-time investment that opens up establishments to nearly 15 per cent extra consumer base.” They sought to stress that the law mandated these basic steps.

“Yet, go anywhere in the city and you’ll find that these simple things have not been taken care of. The result — it becomes hazardous and dangerous to people with special needs.”