By Asif Ahmad Bhat
A while back, the government issued an order related to the specially-abled persons to get their document of disability re-verified. The purpose of this order was to expose the corrupt elements. Basically, there was a large proportion of people who had registered themselves as persons with disabilities when in reality they were physically fit and healthy.
On one hand, it was a good initiative to expose those masquerading as persons with disabilities. On the other hand, it was the beginning of a hectic process for those suffering from the slings and arrows of damaged body parts. They were made to wander from pillar to post to get their documents verified like Unique Disability Identity card (UDID), which a person could get only at certain places; a document to be verified at the concerned Bank authorities; an affidavit from a first class magistrate; and an e-ticket from food and civil supplies department – and the list is endless.
Another major problem faced by them was that they could not send anyone to help them out; they had to do it themselves. The burden of the biometric lay on their head much like everything else. They had to visit each department multiple times to get their documents verified. The time-gap between the appointments (visits) was in itself frustrating. For example, to get a UDID card, specially-abled persons had to first visit the concerned department to get the appointment. Almost a week or two later, they were again supposed to visit it to get their biometric done. The third time, they had to visit the local computer operator to get it downloaded or printed out. Similarly, they were to get an e-ticket from the food and civil supplies department. They had to submit the documents on the first visit and almost ten to fifteen days later, the e-ticket was issued in their favour.
The sufferings of specially-abled people did not end here. Not only did they have to wait for about half a month to get the documents verified but they also had to navigate their way through the buildings of these institutions or departments which were not disability-friendly. This, despite recent legislations like Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016 and recent campaigns like the Accessible India Campaign. With no disability-friendly infrastructure in place, persons with disabilities had to struggle to get to different floors of government offices and had to rely on the help of people to physically lift them to various chambers for documentation. After completing the formalities of re-verification documentation, their ordeal was far from over. They had to again rely on other people waiting in line to get them downstairs as well. They were left to the good-will of onlookers who may or may not have helped them. The whole ordeal accentuated their sufferings instead of making anything more accessible and easy for them. The entire process of making the world more democratic and accessible fell flat as they were reminded of their disability again and made to suffer because of it despite the fact that it was the infrastructure’s disability in the first place and not theirs. The government needs to ensure that no one is left behind.
It is not only the fault of those various institutions, but the state too is responsible. Changing the name of disability to specially-abled is not enough. Delivering speeches on disability day won’t improve their condition. No doubt the state took this step to bring transparency and allow the real beneficiaries to avail benefit. But the manner of its implementation was not disabled-friendly.
It is the collective responsibility of society to not let them feel that they have any disability. The state must restructure the pattern of their buildings, shifting the main office to the ground floor or making special arrangements so that the specially-abled person will not suffer to get their work done. The state may also provide an increment in their pension. The criteria to avail various documents must be made simple and easy. Their work must be given a top priority to avoid frequent visits. A separate department apart from the social welfare department must be there that would have a link with all the concerned institutions or departments, so that specially-abled people need not visit various departments to get their work completed. No doubt there are numerous NGOs who tirelessly work for improving the standard of specially-abled persons. Still, there are deficiencies and loopholes about their policies – and it requires immediate attention.
Views expressed in the article are the author’s own and do not necessarily represent the editorial stance of Kashmir Observer
- The author is pursuing M.A in history from University of Kashmir
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