GUWAHATI, Aug 10 - Taking strong exception to the deliberate violation of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (RPwD) Act 2016, the State Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities has reprimanded the State Public Works Department for violation of the norms of constructing disabled-friendly footpaths in Guwahati.
�Making roads and footpaths barrier-free is not an option but mandatory under the RPwD Act, with legal consequences for contravention or violation,� the strongly-worded notice to the Commissioner and Special Secretary PWD (Roads) Assam from the Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities has mentioned.
It may be noted that the Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities had written to the State Public Works Department in April this year regarding making the pedestrian paths along GS Road accessible and barrier-free for persons with disabilities as per provisions of the RPwD Act, 2016, which did not yield any positive result.
The newly constructed footpath from Khanapara to Ulubari does not have the provision of tactile tiles, making it inaccessible to persons with disabilities, specifically the visually impaired persons and also the elderly.
The recent notice that has been slapped on the PWD, further mentions that a penalty up to Rs 5 lakh can be levied on any of the authorities violating the norms of the Act.
�All the modern cities have the provision of making the footpaths usable for differently able persons and the elderly. Even though this provision is not there in the old footpaths, it can be easily introduced in the new constructions by removing the middle-tiles and fitting the tactile tiles. With so much of thrust on empowering the persons with disability in the country, it is the least we can do to start with,� sources in the social welfare department stated.
Under Section 41 of the Act the State government is mandated to provide access to transport for the differently able at bus stops, railway station, airports, etc. Accessible roads to address mobility necessary for persons with disabilities have also been made mandatory.
In pursuance of the provisions under Section 40 of the RPwD Act, 2016 the Government of India has duly notified the �Harmonised Guidelines and Space Standards for Barrier Free Built Environment for Persons with Disability and Elderly Persons�. The guidelines have been prepared by the Ministry of Urban Development (MoUD). The State Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities has the responsibility under Section 80 to monitor implementation of the provisions of the Act.