Mumbai lacks sight: Needs to be citizen-friendly

In a world divided on the basis of colour and boundaries, John Lennon’s Imagine tells us to forget all that and live like one.

The world, which would be abominable without its colours, also embraces many who can’t see the colours, the boundaries or the divisions between mankind. However, the world looks at them ‘differently’.

About 87% of the world’s visually impaired live in developing countries. Most of these countries are so focused on development that they have forgotten to take along with them the physically handicapped in their stride.

Mumbai, the most developed city of our country, can boast of schools for the visually handicapped, but what about the treatment meted out to them? The city isn’t planned for them and doesn’t facilitate them in anyway.

“The city is not only unfriendly, but is also poorly equipped for the physically challenged. The Constitution has made provisions which cater to them but what’s saddening is that no one follows them,” says Pankaj Joshi, an architect and urban planner.
Joshi adds, “Skywalks, buildings, bridges at railway stations are being built, but how many of them have the facility for visually and physically challenged people? No one ever considers them while planning the city.

Apart from a few privileges like tax exemptions, free travel, the city and the country ignores them. Unlike the West which has ‘special’ corridors, trams and restrooms, we are far behind.
Many feel that disparity lies because of our attitude. The common man is too busy thinking about himself. “Years ago, Aishwarya Rai pledged her eyes and requested others to do so. But how many have really done that?” asks Dr Himanshu Mehta, an eye surgeon.

The long list of people suffering from treatable blindness tells it all. Regular camps, awareness campaigns have failed to generate enough sympathy in people to get up and pledge their eyes. “It’s an easy process. However, without knowing much about it, people choose to disregard it,” says Mehta.

While Indians opt not to do so, our neighbouring country, Sri Lanka, has the highest number of eye donors. Their religion, Buddhism, preaches that ‘if you donate sight in this life, you’ll be able to see in the next’.

Maybe it is time we stopped fighting over a piece of land and gifted one the joy of sight to see the beautiful world.

The white cane is not only a crutch, but also a symbol of visually-challenged people. On the occasion of White Cane Safety Day on October 15, DNA checks out whether or not our city is equipped to help the visually-impaired  and what can be done to improve the situation.

Society’s outlook has changed over time

Our society needs to have a practical outlook regarding expectations from the visually impaired. Our government gives blindness certificates, which can help them get employment under the ‘disabled person’ category. Visually-impaired people contribute to society and are more independent. Our society’s outlook towards them has changed and they have become an integral part of it. They need special tools to survive. For education, for instance, they need special schools where they are taught using the Braille format. They need special magnifying aids (Low Vision Aids) if the blindness is partial. And, they need special walking sticks with bells called white cane to help them walk. Above all, they need sympathetic attitude from a society.
Harshvardhan Ghorpade, ophthalmologist, Fortis  Hiranandani Hospital

All of them are achievers, they need our support

I feel sorry at the condition of our city. Forget about the visually impaired, the city’s infrastructure is not equipped for others too. We need to have a caring attitude and sensitivity towards psychically-challenged people. We are organising an event called ‘White Cane Day’ to facilitate the achievers who have achieved what even normal people could not. For instance, Neha Pawaskar who has climbed 1,7200ft of the Himalayas, and bagged national and international awards. Similarly, professor Shyam Sayanekar has won a gold medal for his achievement in education. He shortcoming could not stop him from doing MA, LLM and MPhil. Right from education to creativity, they have excelled and proved they are extraordinary people and are ready to face any challenge.
Parag Pradhan, organiser, Janahit Kaksha

We need a barrier-free environment

If we talk about people’s attitude towards the visually-handicapped, then it goes beyond helping them cross a road. How many visually-impaired persons have the citizens helped or spoken to? The help shouldn’t be on just for a day, but on a daily basis. Apart from people’s attitude, the city’s infrastructure too needs to change. It has to be a barrier-free environment. If we look at the footpaths, roads they are encroached, so where is one supposed to walk? I don’t even find the white cane very inducive. For instance, if a visually-challenged person drops it while climbing stairs,  on which step is he/she supposed to look for it? Today’s environment is very dangerous and we must help them overcome obstacles to lead a happy life.
Beroz Vacha, founder and director, Helen Keller Institute for the Deaf and Deafblind

Few benefits by govt are not enough

The city is sensitive towards visually-challenged people and gives few benefits like special seats in buses and trains. The government has also framed many policies for the visually challenged. However, I feel that the government is doing so because they have to.  Sensitivity and compassion towards visually impaired is lacking. I have seen  them at stations where they have to face many problems while boarding a train. Crossing road is another problem for them as hardly there are any amenities which are utilised for their purpose.
Urvika Pandey, campaign executive

Should get employment in every sector

It is sad to see that the government is not doing anything for the physically challenged. There are not many facilities for them. For example, there should be separate lanes for them. We have built new subways and foot-over bridges, but there are no provisions or guidance for them on how to use these facilities. Volunteers and NGOs are the only ones who are fighting for their rights. I think, more and more people should come forward, and be caring and sensitive towards them. The government must ensure that they get education and employment in every stream.
Marienellle Castelino, media professional

Build infrastructure to ease their commute

I feel the city is friendly for the visually challenged. People are coming forward to take care of them through various NGOs. However, the government is not doing enough. If we take the infrastructure of our city, then there are hardly any amenities to ease their daily problems. When I see a visually challenged person at a station, I feel they feel lost because there is no help for them. Even if they get jobs, it is not easy for them to commute. If we want to include them in the main stream, then the authorities must look at improving the infrastructure of the city.
Mohnish Modi, creative writer