How many guidelines? As once I searched, there are 3-4 guidelines applicable to my area. But, none is legally enforceable. Moreover, most of them are not scientifically defined, not updated to incorporate recent changes in technology, differ one from another. More importantly, what is the penalty for violating these guidelines? Nothing. They are not officially notified in gazette. Simply the authorities like commissioners may orally caution the people involved in construction. What if they turn a deaf ear towards those words? For example, in Tumkur University campus, (Karnataka), which is mostly built after many of these guidelines are framed (I avoid the term enforced), many buildings are inaccessible. Whom should I blame? On what basis? What is the penalty? Will the inaccessibility be corrected after complaint?
The present guidelines might also be one more among those old ones. But I hope they should not be. If we fail so utterly in the process of making the law itself, I am afraid how many generations we should wait to see the "Accessible India". Thanks to the moderators and others at least we are seeing "Access India" in this generation. (Smiles) Umesha S E Assistant Professor of Economics, And Liaison Officer for the Disabled, Tumkur University, Tumakuru, Karnataka 9480662242 On 12/13/15, avinash shahi <shahi88avin...@gmail.com> wrote: > Where I can obtain the document? > http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/economy/policy/urban-development-ministry-frames-accessibility-guidelines-for-buildings/articleshow/50159164.cms > NEW DELHI: The government has formulated guidelines to make all > government and private buildings, including malls, restaurants and > public dealing offices, accessible to the disabled and the elderly. > > The Union urban development ministry, after a year's spadework, has > prepared "harmonised guidelines and space standards for barrier-free > environment for persons with disabilities". > > The 100-page document lists out detailed specifications for all new > buildings, including specifications on access to buildings, provision > of disabled-friendly toilets, specifications of walkways, floor > patterns, illumination levels, door handles, lifts, height of public > telephones, vending machines, ATMs and drop boxes. > > The need for the guidelines was felt after the ministry of social > justice and empowerment pointed out that there are varied > specifications from Central Public Works Department (CPWD) and state > agencies. The ministry of social justice asked the urbG A·an > development ministry to formulate guidelines that would be common > standard for all public buildings. > > "At present, there are no common standards. With Accessible India > being implemented by the Centre on mission mode, such guidelines > become essential. So, these guidelines have been formulated," a senior > official told ET. > > All public buildings have to comply with accessibility requirement for > persons with disabilities including government institutions, office > buildings, residential buildings, commercial buildings, health > facilities, restaurants, recreational and sports facilities, religious > buildings and all other building types used by the general public. > > At present, these guidelines are not mandatory for private players. > "For private players, these would be simple guidelines. But if > somebody wants to build an accessible building, these standards have > to be adhered to," said an official involved in framing the > guidelines. > > The urban development ministry officials formulated the guidelines > after consultations with organisations working with the > differently-abled and detailed study of international standards. The > document includes detailed guidelines such as provision of at least > one entrance for a wheelchair user, unisex toilets on each floor of a > multi-level building, no use of cobblestones on pathways, tactile > guidance strips along the hallways, no confusing floor patterns like > stripes, minimum illumination levels in lux, handrails with braille > panels and door handles with simple pull and push mechanism. > > > -- > Avinash Shahi > Doctoral student at Centre for Law and Governance JNU > > > > Register at the dedicated AccessIndia list for discussing accessibility of > mobile phones / Tabs on: > http://mail.accessindia.org.in/mailman/listinfo/mobile.accessindia_accessindia.org.in > > > Search for old postings at: > http://www.mail-archive.com/accessindia@accessindia.org.in/ > > To unsubscribe send a message to > accessindia-requ...@accessindia.org.in > with the subject unsubscribe. > > To change your subscription to digest mode or make any other changes, please > visit the list home page at > http://accessindia.org.in/mailman/listinfo/accessindia_accessindia.org.in > > > Disclaimer: > 1. Contents of the mails, factual, or otherwise, reflect the thinking of the > person sending the mail and AI in no way relates itself to its veracity; > > 2. AI cannot be held liable for any commission/omission based on the mails > sent through this mailing list.. > Register at the dedicated AccessIndia list for discussing accessibility of mobile phones / Tabs on: http://mail.accessindia.org.in/mailman/listinfo/mobile.accessindia_accessindia.org.in Search for old postings at: http://www.mail-archive.com/accessindia@accessindia.org.in/ To unsubscribe send a message to accessindia-requ...@accessindia.org.in with the subject unsubscribe. To change your subscription to digest mode or make any other changes, please visit the list home page at http://accessindia.org.in/mailman/listinfo/accessindia_accessindia.org.in Disclaimer: 1. Contents of the mails, factual, or otherwise, reflect the thinking of the person sending the mail and AI in no way relates itself to its veracity; 2. AI cannot be held liable for any commission/omission based on the mails sent through this mailing list..
