Rather than throwing mud at Enable India we should collectively raise our voice against the irresponsibleness of governmennt departments which lets them leave the pot holes open. Not just in Bangalore all across India the storey is the same. After making ditches on the road sides whoever dig it are leaving them open. Not only visually impaired, but sighted are also having problems from them. After this incident within hours BBMP people closed the ditch in front of Enable India, but still there are places where it is open. So there should be efforts to hold the concerned government departments accountable. There should be efforts at the national level since this problem is wide-spread in India.
To speak personally, I am one of those who have benifited from Enable India's good work. After losing my sight in 2007, for 7 years I was shut inside my home. Last april I joine their CCCT course, I finished the course last June and now I will be joining one of the MNCs in Banglore very soon. One year back I never thought I would get job and I would go out of my home. But now Enable India has given me my life back. Not just me more than thousand disabled have got benifited out of their good work. They have placed around 2000 disabled in different companies. I don't think in India any other NGO has study materials as good as the materials of Enable India. If one has their Eye Tool one doesn't need any trainer to learn computer. It is that efficient. And the argument that it was because Enable India is run by sighted people they let this incident happen is completely wrong. If you had known how much the founder is doing for the disabled you would not have said this. Her Disability Awareness Workshop has played a big role in creating awareness about disability in corporates. So please don't measure all the NGOs with the same yardstic. Thank you, Ratheesh\ On 8/10/14, haridaskrishnamur...@gmail.com <haridaskrishnamur...@gmail.com> wrote: > T > -this is because most of the n g os inbangalore are managed by normal people > .----Original message----- > From: P. Subramani > Sent: 09/08/2014, 12:39 PM > To: George Abraham; 'AccessIndia: a list for discussing accessibility and > issues concerningthe disabled.' > Subject: Re: [AI] BBMP's death trap & blind man walking > -Bangalore Mirrorwith picture > > > Re: [AI] BBMP's death trap & blind man walking -Bangalore Mirrorwith > pictureI have to be very clear that neverever I accused Enable India, my > accusations were/are in general terms to NGOs. Surely as you say, enable > India should have played a proactive role, I meant only that. There are > many NGOs working in the disabled sector, the path to their premises are > totally inaccessible with potholes, electric poles, drains, etc., on which > such NGOs have not cared to act by taking up with local authorities. When > NGOs can organise huge functions/meetings, there is absolutely no reasons > for not acting in this regard. Praising NGOs for good things is worthwhile, > also they have to face the critics for not acting on many fronts. Those > heading NGOs always speak for the NGOs. ----- Original Message ----- > From: George Abraham > To: 'AccessIndia: a list for discussing accessibility and issues > concerningthe disabled.' > Sent: Saturday, August 09, 2014 11:50 AM > Subject: Re: [AI] BBMP's death trap & blind man walking -Bangalore > Mirrorwith picture > > > Perhaps Enable India could have and should have requested authorities to > cover the drain in front of their office. Having said this, I would > emphatically state that it is wrong for us to accuse Enable India to > simply > be interested in taking donations and grants. Do you know the background > and kind of the work Enable India does? It has become extremely > fashionable > for people to loosely hurl criticism on NGOs. I would like to state here > that Enable India is responsible for a number of our blind friends today > taking up fairly paying jobs in the Private sector. Their training > programmes are of high quality. They not only have setup skill > development > programmes but also are constantly working out work place solutions. > > To generate high quality training programmes, you need good quality > professionals and to hire and keep high quality professionals, you need > funds. Enable India is doing good work and need to be appreciated. > > Again I say, it is definitely within our rights to point out that Enable > India could and should have played a proactive role in closing the drain > in front of their office but certainly none of us have the right to > accuse > them of being being merely donation/grant focused. Let us be mature in > our > statements. Access India is a public forum and we must be responsible > with > our comments. > -----Original Message----- > From: AccessIndia [mailto:accessindia-boun...@accessindia.org.in] On > Behalf > Of P. Subramani > Sent: 02 August 2014 13:28 > To: Timy Sebastian; AccessIndia: a list for discussing accessibility and > issues concerningthe disabled. > Cc: kfbyouth > Subject: Re: [AI] BBMP's death trap & blind man walking - Bangalore > Mirrorwith picture > > [AI] BBMP's death trap & blind man walking - Bangalore Mirrorwith > pictureApart from all these, the Enable India should have contacted > BBMP > for closing the manhole. Such associations never take up the > causes/issues of blind, instead, they are interested with donations/govt > grants, surely carelessness on enable India is much more than BBMP. > ----- Original Message ----- > From: Timy Sebastian > To: AccessIndia: a list for discussing accessibility and issues > concerningthe disabled. > Cc: kfbyouth > Sent: Friday, August 01, 2014 7:16 AM > Subject: [AI] BBMP's death trap & blind man walking - Bangalore > Mirrorwith picture > > > sourse: > > > > http://www.bangaloremirror.com/bangalore/cover-story/BBMPs-callousness-brok > > en-arm-FIR-public-interest-litigation-Timy-Sebastian-drain-medical-transcri > > ption-company-EnAble-trust-blind-Jennifer-Pinto-Priya-Pinto-Timy-Sebastian/ > articleshow/39373878.cms?prtpage=1 > The five-foot deep ditch in front of EnAble India on Sarjapur Road, > Koramangala I block, into which Timy Sebastian fell headlong and broke > his arm > A 31-year-old blind youth was lucky to survive with a broken arm after > falling headlong into a 5-foot deep ditch; now he has taken on BBMP's > callousness with an FIR > Even for a person with 20/20 vision, it is quite a feat to safely > cross the three-foot wide, uncovered shoulder drain just outside the > commercial building that houses EnAble India, a charitable trust for > persons with disability, located on Sarjapura Road in Koramangala I > block near Wipro Junction. Imagine then, the plight of a blind person > who uses a white cane to move around. > > Misfortune struck Timy Sebastian, a 31-year-old blind postgraduate > from Kerala, who had come to the city to attend a computer training > programme at EnAble, when he fell inside the five-foot deep drain and > suffered a fractured humerus on the right arm and underwent a surgery. > > While EnAble is housed in the second floor, the building is also > occupied by a medical transcription company, Lake System, in the first > floor. Concerned over the difficulties being faced by the visually > impaired people coming to EnAble India, staff at the medical > transcription company had made repeated requests to cover the shoulder > drain which was kept open for almost two months for desilting work. > Had the BBMP not turned a blind eye to the dangers of the uncovered > drain, Timy wouldn't have faced such a near disastrous mishap. And in > a pointer to its callousness, the spot where the mishap occurred is > still lying partially uncovered, even though Timy's visually impaired > friends are still frequenting the EnAble trust. > > > > MISHAP MOCKS AT HC RULING > > Timy, a native of Kottayam in Kerala, had come to Koramangala to > attend the training programme two months ago. He was put up at a > paying guest accommodation in the vicinity, which was almost one > kilometre away. Though completely blind, he is independent and uses a > white cane for mobility. > > He is also comfortable using public transport as well as other > facilities. On July 25, around 12.30 pm, Timy had finished his class > at the institute and was stepping out to have lunch. Descending from > the steps and stretching his cane out to find his way on the road, > Timy noticed his cane wasn't coming in contact with solid ground. But > alas, it was too late to prevent that fall, said Timy's family members > speaking to BM from Kerala. > > He fell headlong into the almost five-foot deep drain and broke his > right arm. Hearing his shouts for help, the owner of a departmental > store on the ground floor of the same building came running out and > rescued Timy. He was rushed to a nearby private hospital where he > underwent surgery and was hospitalised for almost five days. Since he > has been advised bed rest for almost two months, Timy was brought back > home to Kerala. The victim has also filed an FIR against the concerned > BBMP officials with the Koramangala police, the family members added. > > The mishap occurred just two days after the High Court of Karnataka > ruled that pavements are the exclusive domain of walkers. The court, > on a public interest litigation (PIL) filed by city activists Jennifer > Pinto and Priya Pinto, had directed the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara > Palike (BBMP) to remove all encroachments on footpaths within the next > three months. Specifically, the court empowered the civic agency to > clear obstructions to make the city pedestrian-friendly. But looks > like instead of clearing obstructions, BBMP seems to be putting them > up, as seen in the unfortunate incident involving Timy. > > When contacted, Jennifer told BM, "Timy Sebastian's case indeed > vindicates our stand. In fact the Association for the Visually > Challenged had impleaded in our PIL. I appreciate Sebastian's decision > to file a police complaint as people normally forget and move on. I > think sooner than later the court must make BBMP responsible for such > mishap and improper footpaths across Bangalore." > > In another five days, Timy would have completed the training. "He has > already found a job in a software firm for which the training was > mandatory. He would have been placed in any of the firms either in > Kerala or Bangalore from August. But now, we do not know what will > happen. After Timy recovers, he will be sent back to complete the > training. We are hoping that at least by then, the open shoulder drain > will be covered," his family members rued. > > "His medical expenses have totaled nearly Rs 1 lakh, which we have had > to bear. We hope this amount will be reimbursed to us since Timy was > an innocent victim," they added. > > Sunil, the owner of the departmental store who had rescued Timy, said > that work was going on for the last two months. "There is only one > stone slab to step on between the road and the pavement. Timy's fall > was very scary. Immediately after the incident, the concerned > authorities have partially covered the open drain. Had they done this > immediately after completing their work, Timy would have been fine," > Sunil said. > > Moses, manager, EnAble India, said while there were skids involving > other visually impaired friends of Timy near the drain, none had > experienced a fall like him. > > Shino, Timy's cousin who works in Whitefield, and who was with the > latter in the hospital, told BM, "Timy is deeply upset as he is unable > to attend the training which has affected his employment chances ." > > The Koramangala police said they are yet to take up the matter for > investigations as they were busy in the bandobast duties for the > bandh. > > When contacted, ward No. 151 ( Koramangala) corporator B N Kokila said > silt removal from the drain and tiling of the footpath was taken up > around a month ago, and it has made slow progress. The work is being > financed using the MLA's fund belonging to minister Ramalinga Reddy. I > am not aware of the incident, but I will ask the ward engineer to > speed up the work." > > Ward assistant engineer Shivalingappa said, "I am not aware of the > mishap. I had told contractors to take all precautionary measures. I > will personally look into the matter." > > > FOOTPATH TRAP, A PREQUEL > > Bangalore Mirror had recently reported (Pavements are not for > transformers: HC, June 5, 2014) about the family of a deceased > pedestrian moving the High Court against Bescom. The family had blamed > the power company and BBMP for the death of Manoj Patil on May 18, > 2013, due to electrical shock from the protective steel fence around a > transformer installed on the footpath near Church Street. Looks like > nothing much has changed for BBMP. Otherwise, Timy Sebastian wouldn't > have had to lodge an FIR against its officials. > > > > Register at the dedicated AccessIndia list for discussing accessibility > of mobile phones / Tabs on: > > > http://mail.accessindia.org.in/mailman/listinfo/mobile.accessindia_accessin > dia.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_accessin > dia.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.. > > > 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.. > -- Mobi- +91-9037397893 SKYPE- ratheesh.ignou facebook- https://www.facebook.com/ratheesh.kottakkal.3 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..
