NEW DELHI: Two members of National Human Rights Commission’s core committee on disability on Wednesday alleged they were denied entry to its foundation day function, to which they had been invited. Dr Satendra Singh and Arman Ali, who have mobility disabilities, claimed they were not allowed to take their vehicles inside the campus of Dr Ambedkar International Centre and could not use the reserved parking for persons with disability. An NHRC spokesperson refused to comment on the matter. A wheelchair-user, Ali, also the executive director of National Centre for Promotion of Employment for Disabled People, told TOI, “The general practice is that the vehicle drops us at a point where we can find assistance. At such places, there is a provision of reserved parking for persons with disability closer to the entrance. However, how can we go inside without a vehicle? We left after waiting for half an hour.” Ali said it was unfortunate that such a thing happened on NHRC’s foundation day. “It was not a walk-in and we were invitees. It dampens the efforts that the government or other people are making,” he added. He said there should be a protocol when persons with disabilities are invited to events. “It is occasions like these which are represented by our constitutional heads and where we can walk our talk of inclusion and set examples for others,” Ali tweeted. Singh tweeted: “Why were two members of the NHRC core group on disability denied entry to the NHRC’s foundation day function at the Dr Ambedkar International Centre? They were both people with mobility disabilities and since the chief guest is vice president of India, entry is restricted. This is not the first time when VVIP movement curtails all basic rights to those who suffer from inaccessible infrastructure. It’s time to address accessibility and human rights issues. There was no parking for disability and we were asked to park elsewhere.” He also shared a picture of his invitation card. Singh said they face humiliation despite the government’s ‘Accessible India’ campaign. In a series of tweets, he highlighted how accessibility in the city is a challenge. He shared a video of reserved parking for disability outside Patiala House court on Wednesday which was encroached upon by barriers put up by police. “Even traffic police are not aware about the meaning of the symbol which says that the space is reserved for persons with disability,” said Singh, a doctor at University College of Medical Sciences and Guru Teg Bahadur Hospital. Indian para swimmer Mohammed Shams Aalam Shaikh, who had earlier attended the National Sports Awards rehearsal at Dr Ambedkar International Centre, said the main stage was inaccessible. “The stage had a steep wooden ramp that I couldn’t use. I managed to reach the main stage only after three-four people helped me.”
Source: https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/delhi/delhi-denied-access-at-foundation-days-event-claim-nhrc-disability-panel-members/articleshow/94821287.cms