In its bid to make the country disabled-friendly, the Government is planning to commission over 100 buildings across 50 big cities of the country by providing specialised elevators, ramps and other such facilities, said the Union Minister of Social Justice and Empowerment, Thaawarchand Gehlot.
“India will launch major initiatives, including wheelchair-friendly buildings, widespread sign language training, skill training and easy accessibility of loans to make the country more amenable to people with disabilities under the ‘Accessible India’ initiative,” said Gehlot while addressing the 15th edition of the International Spine and Spinal Injuries Conference (ISSICON) here on Sunday.
While stressing on the need to make the country more accessible and friendly to people with disabilities, the Union Minister of Social Justice and Empowerment said: “Under the ‘Accessible India’ initiative the Government is planning to make 100 buildings across 50 big cities of the country disabled-friendly by providing specialised elevators, ramps and other such facilities.”
The conference was attended by Dr AK Mukherjee, President, Spinal Cord Society and Director General, ISIC; Dr JJ Wyndaele, President, International Spinal Cord Society and Dr HS Chhabra, Secretary, Spinal Cord Society; Medical Director, ISIC among other doctors, experts, and res-earchers from around the globe.
Other initiatives to make India disabled-friendly include providing sign language training and equipment to people with hearing and speech problems, providing motorised tricycles and motorised wheelchairs, skill training and easy loans to help specially-abled people set up business and improve their lives.
“Training and equipping care givers to take care of the needs of SCI patients is another focus area. lack of properly trained people is an area of concern,” said Dr H S Chhabra, Secretary, Spinal Cord Society; Medical Director, ISIC.