Latest news with #RightsofPersonswithDisabilitiesAct
Time of India
4 days ago
- General
- Time of India
Gig workers with disabilities unable to access lounges
Chennai: Greater Chennai Corporation has set up lounges with air conditioning, power outlets and toilets in Anna Nagar and T Nagar for gig workers to relax between orders, but the spaces remain inaccessible to people with disabilities (PwDs). K Sasikumar, a food delivery partner, says being on the road all day on his battery-powered wheelchair is physically exhausting as his app algorithm forces him to travel to faraway locations. "Since I take my wheelchair to faraway locations, using the wheelchair on these roads induces severe body pain. I tried using the lounge once, but there is no way to access it as it's on a pavement with no way to get on it with my wheelchair. Also, the entrance has an extended door frame that hinders the path. It's nice the govt is coming up with such initiatives, but when they build such structures, they should keep us in mind," he said. S Namburajan, vice-president of Tamil Nadu Association for the Rights of All Types of Differently Abled and Caregivers (Taratdac), said the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act (RPwD Act), 2016 in India mandates accessibility across various sectors, including physical infrastructure, transportation, information and communication technology (ICT), and public services. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like No annual fees for life UnionBank Credit Card Apply Now Undo The Act also states that the govt should ensure all public buildings and spaces that are already constructed be made accessible through modifications. "Despite such an Act in place, policy makers continue to build places that are inaccessible. It needs to be strictly enforced during planning phase." You Can Also Check: Chennai AQI | Weather in Chennai | Bank Holidays in Chennai | Public Holidays in Chennai While GCC plans similar lounges in Thiruvanmiyur, Villivakkam, Royapettah, Mylapore, and Nungambakkam, activists say small retrofittings can make a huge difference. Sathish Kumar, an activist, said a ramp should be made that connects the road to the entrance. "There should be a charging space for wheelchairs and the width of the toilet door should be 3 feet. The toilet also should be accessible and be made spacious according to space available. " "We've taken note of the issue and are planning to install a temporary ramp as we work on constructing a permanent one," said GCC commissioner J Kumaragurubaran.
Time of India
4 days ago
- General
- Time of India
Chennai Gig Workers Lounge: No Access For Wheelchair Users
A gig workers lounge in Anna Nagar, Chennai Greater Chennai Corporation has set up lounges with air conditioning, power outlets and toilets in Anna Nagar and T Nagar for gig workers to relax between orders, but the spaces remain inaccessible to people with disabilities (PwDs). READ ALSO: Just 7% of gig workers signed up for welfare schemes K Sasikumar, a food delivery partner, says being on the road all day on his battery-powered wheelchair is physically exhausting as his app algorithm forces him to travel to faraway locations. 'Since I take my wheelchair to faraway locations, using the wheelchair on these roads induces severe body pain. I tried using the lounge once, but there is no way to access it as it's on a pavement with no way to get on it with my wheelchair. Also, the entrance has an extended door frame that hinders the path. It's nice the govt is coming up with such initiatives, but when they build such structures, they should keep us in mind,' he said. You Can Also Check: Chennai AQI | Weather in Chennai | Bank Holidays in Chennai | Public Holidays in Chennai S Namburajan, vice-president of Tamil Nadu Association for the Rights of All Types of Differently Abled and Caregivers (Taratdac), said the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act (RPwD Act), 2016 in India mandates accessibility across various sectors, including physical infrastructure, transportation, information and communication technology (ICT), and public services. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Luxury Awaits at Paras Floret | Paras Sector 59 Gurgaon Paras The Florett Book Now Undo The Act also states that the govt should ensure all public buildings and spaces that are already constructed be made accessible through modifications. 'Despite such an Act in place, policy makers continue to build places that are inaccessible. It needs to be strictly enforced during planning phase.' While GCC plans similar lounges in Thiruvanmiyur, Villivakkam, Royapettah, Mylapore, and Nungambakkam, activists say small retrofittings can make a huge difference. Sathish Kumar, an activist, said a ramp should be made that connects the road to the entrance. 'There should be a charging space for wheelchairs and the width of the toilet door should be 3 feet. The toilet also should be accessible and be made spacious according to space available. ' 'We've taken note of the issue and are planning to install a temporary ramp as we work on constructing a permanent one,' said GCC commissioner J Kumaragurubaran.
Time of India
4 days ago
- General
- Time of India
Those with disability who can do the work can't be rejected: HC
Madurai: Any person with minor deformities that don't significantly impact their ability to perform the duties of the post has to be considered for selection, observed Madras high court on Tuesday while quashing an order by the review medical board which rejected a person's candidature to the post of constable in Central Armed Police Forces. The board had rejected his candidature on the ground that he had polydactyly on left thumb. "If a person with disability of any kind is capable of performing the same duty as performed by a normal person, then his case is also to be considered as that of the person, who is normal in the strict sense," said Justice Vivek Kumar Singh. The court was hearing the petition filed by R Balamurugan, an undergraduate degree holder. He had applied for the post of constable in various Central Armed Police Forces such as BSF, CISF and CRPF. He cleared the computer-based examination, participated in certificate verification, physical standard test, and physical efficiency test. Thereafter, he was rejected in medical examination on the ground of polydactyly on left hand. In Oct 2024, he was rejected by review medical board, which he subsequently challenged through the present petition. The petitioner's counsel submitted that there is no extra digit on the radial side of the petitioner's hand, but his left hand thumb is only unsized, which cannot be categorized as polydactyly. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Thôn Cầu Sắt: Nhà tiền chế lắp đặt chỉ trong 1 ngày Prefabricated Homes Tìm hiểu thêm Undo He said clause 7 of the home ministry's revised guidelines gives discretion to the medical examination board to accept the candidature in case of minor acceptable defects which will not in any way affect the efficiency of the candidate. Justice Vivek Kumar Singh said it would be appropriate to direct govt bodies and authorities, who formulate laws and rules regarding medical examination, to bear in mind that instead of going to the technicality of the medical disability, they should rather see it on humanitarian approach. "Considering this aspect, if he or she is able to perform the duty as performed by other normal persons, their name for employment making him medically unfit would not be rejected on this sole ground," he said. "In our country, disability should not be a barrier to secure govt jobs, as the law mandates non-discrimination and reasonable accommodations for persons with disabilities as per the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016," the court said. Various high courts have rendered the decisions in favour of petitioners whose cases are identical as that of the petitioner. Hence, the judge quashed the review medical examination report and directed the authorities to review/re-conduct medical examination for the petitioner.
United News of India
5 days ago
- Politics
- United News of India
SC issues comprehensive guidelines for disability-friendly prisons in Tamil Nadu
New Delhi, July 15 (UNI) The Supreme Court today issued a set of comprehensive guidelines to ensure disability rights and accessibility for prisoners with disabilities in all prisons across Tamil Nadu. The directions mandate disability-friendly infrastructure such as accessible toilets, ramps, dedicated spaces for physiotherapy, and other essential facilities. A bench comprising Justice JB Pardiwala and Justice R Mahadevan passed these directions while hearing a special leave petition filed by an advocate with disabilities who suffered due to lack of proper facilities during incarceration in connection with a civil dispute. The Court directed the State to amend the State Prison Manual within six months to bring it in line with the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016 (RPwD Act) and the 2006 United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD). Justice Mahadevan, authoring the judgment, emphasised: 'The State has a constitutional and moral obligation to uphold the rights of prisoners with disabilities. Reasonable accommodations are not optional but integral to any humane and just carceral system.' The Court observed that disabilities must not become a basis for further deprivation or suffering, and called for a systemic transformation grounded in compassion, accountability, and a constitutional commitment to dignity and equality. Key Directions Issued Include, Prompt identification of prisoners with disabilities at admission and provision of rules in accessible formats (Braille, large print, sign language, simplified language). Universal accessibility in prison premises with wheelchair-friendly spaces, accessible toilets, ramps, and sensory-safe environments. Designation of dedicated spaces for physiotherapy, psychotherapy, and therapeutic services. State-level access audit of all prisons within six months, with periodic audits thereafter. Compliance with Sections 40 and 45 of the RPwD Act, 2016, Rule 15 of the 2017 Rules, and Harmonised Guidelines, 2021. Equivalent healthcare for prisoners with disabilities, including assistive devices, physiotherapy, psychiatric services, and medical diets tailored to specific needs. Training of prison medical officers and staff on disability rights, equality, and non-discrimination principles. Revision of the State Prison Manual within six months to include provisions prohibiting discrimination against prisoners with disabilities, and to promote reasonable accommodation. Periodic consultations with civil society organisations working in the disability sector. Constitution of a monitoring committee to conduct inspections and submit compliance reports every three months. Maintenance of disaggregated data on prisoners' disability status, accessibility, accommodations, and medical requirements, to be made public with privacy safeguards. The Director General of Prisons to file a compliance report before the State Human Rights Commission within three months. The matter pertains to that the petitioner suffers from Becker Muscular Dystrophy, Autism Spectrum Disorder, and related psychological conditions. Due to a lack of reasonable accommodations in prison, his health deteriorated. After his release on bail, he was granted compensation of Rs 1 lakh by the Tamil Nadu Human Rights Commission, which also recommended making all prisons accessible in line with the Supreme Court's 2017 Rajiv Raturi judgment recognising accessible infrastructure as part of Article 21. His writ petition before the Madras High Court was dismissed in November 2022, leading to the present appeal before the Supreme Court. UNI SNG RN
New Indian Express
5 days ago
- Politics
- New Indian Express
SC issues guidelines to make Tamil Nadu prisons accessible for prisoners with disabilities
NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Tuesday issued guidelines for prisoners with disabilities across all prisons in Tamil Nadu, as it directed that prisons must be equipped with disability-friendly infrastructure such as accessible toilets, ramps, etc. "The denial of accessibility and essential care to persons with disabilities incarcerated in prisons amounts to violation of fundamental rights under Articles 14 (right to equality) and 21 (right to life and liberty) of the Constitution," said a two-judge Bench of the top court of Justices JB Pardiwala and R Mahadevan. The top court passed the verdict after hearing an appeal filed by one, L Muruganantham, a physically disabled advocate, who had alleged custodial abuse and inadequate medical care while incarcerated in a prison in Tamil Nadu in a case. Upholding the dignity and the healthcare rights of the prisoners with disabilities, the apex court directed the State to amend the State Prison Manual within 6 months to make it in compliance with the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016 (RPwD Act), and other provisions. "Social and structural barriers they face in society are only magnified within the prison environment. Most prison facilities are structurally inaccessible to individuals with mobility, sensory, or cognitive impairments,' the Court said. Highlighting that the State has a constitutional and moral obligation to uphold the rights of prisoners with disabilities, the apex court added, this right was not restricted to ensuring non-discriminatory treatment also carries with it an affirmative right to ensure effective rehabilitation and reintegration into society.
