Cyberabad, housing the information technology industry, may have received international acclaim for the infrastructure it provides to the IT companies. But, the IT hub still lags behind in providing facilities to the persons with disabilities (PWDs).
A recent study conducted by the School of Public Policy and Governance of the Tata Institute of Social Science, revealed that most public spaces and institutions remain inaccessible to the PWDs. Cyberabad was chosen for the study as it is one of the most recently developed part of the city with constructions taking place in late 1990s and 2000s, after the enactment of The Persons With Disabilities (Equal Opportunities, Protection of Rights and Full Participation) Act, 1995, the first legislation that engaged with disability in the country.
The study covered 30 schools, both public and private whose entrances were accessible with wide doors and corridors were also free from obstruction. However, only two public schools and three private schools had ramps that were wide enough for students to use wheel chairs while none of the schools had audible alarm system for emergencies.
In all 28 bus stops and two railway stations were covered as part of the study. None of the bus stops could allow wheel chair bound to use these independently as there was always a level difference that acted as barriers and commercial activities such as eateries made these further difficult to use by the PWDs.
The norms around the gap between the platforms and trains were not maintained in the railway stations and there were no ramps or Braille or tactile displays that could help the PWDs.
The study covered 33 malls that were found to be reasonably accessible and most had easy access to the entrance.
None of the malls had audible warning systems and only six had tactile warning strips while six others had toilets for the PWDs.
In the 29 banks - 13 public and 16 private - covered under the study, entrances were found to be accessible, but none of them had automatic doors. In fact, doors were heavy making it difficult for the PWDs to push and pull them.
Only five out of the 30 government buildings covered had accessible main entrance while none had any parking facility as also toilets.
