Itahari,
June 7 (RSS): People having disabilities are
demanding speedy construction of accessible public infrastructures in Itahari.
They said public infrastructures do need to have accessibility to all people
with disabilities.
''There are just three
ward offices- namely ward number 1,2 and 6- which are little accessible'', said
Dilkumari Rai, Itahari's leading female leader with disability. She added,
''Out of 20, just three have such accessible infrastructures but all other 17
wards are not accessible thanks to governmental inability to construct accessible
infrastructures.'' Rai said not all public roads; toilets and buildings in
Itahari are accessible. ''Even for a brief shopping and stroll with our
accessible vehicles, we can't walk without our support person'', said Rai.
Similar is the tale of
Man Bahadur Bhujel. He felt hard to cast his vote in recently concluded
elections of local level. ''Volunteers were very helpful but infrastructures were
not'', said Bhujel, ''My wheelchair was not rolled up to the election booth on
my own. It is just because of lack of good public accessible infrastructures.''
Bhijel said he had to
come home faster for his defecation after the elections, as there was not
accessible toilet in the pooling area of Itahari-2 Debithan area.
This is not the plight
of Dilkumari Rai and Man Bahadur Bhujel. This is the collective plights of all
estimated 2000 people with some sorts of disabilities in Itahari.
''It is not just a
governmental responsibility but also constitutional and legal obligations to
make accessible public infrastructures for all people with disabilities'', said
Semanta Koirala, a young advocate based in Itahari. He said, ''Unwillingness to
construct accessible public infrastructures is the unconstitutional and illegal
move on part of government. This needs to be addressed at the earliest.'' Koirala said a Sub-Metropolitan City like
Itahari must display strong constitutional and legal obligation to its citizens
with all forms of disabilities.
