Accessibility must become a culture, a way of life: Nakhro

March 15, 2024 55 Views No Comment

Morung Express News
Kohima | March 15

Accessibility must become ingrained in our culture and daily lives, to the point where it is no longer a topic of discussion or consideration.

The State Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities, Diethono Nakhro, stressed the importance of this during a joint inspection conducted at the Nagaland Legislative Assembly, along with the legal team and NLA staff today.

Sharing her observations with media personnel following the inspection, Nakhro said the NLA complex has taken some steps towards improving accessibility, however stated that more needs to be done, particularly in the assembly hall where accessibility is still a major issue. She also noted that there is a complete lack of accessible toilets in such a large complex.

“We are looking forward to political participation among disabled people, and we hope to see members from our community representing the disabled community in the near future,” stated Nakhro.

Stating it is ‘shameful and disgraceful’ for lack of accessibility issues in such a huge complex, she informed that recommendation has been made while an official order and directive to the Assembly Secretariat will be made to address these concerns. While there has been some progress in improving accessibility in the state in recent years and the government has been proactive taking necessary actions, she observed that there is still a long way to go and a lot to be done.

The primary focus of the inspection, the Commissioner said, was on physical accessibility stating that if individuals with disabilities cannot enter a building, move freely within it, or have access to facilities like toilets, they are hindered in their ability to work, carry out activities, or get tasks done.

Although actions have been taken by various departments, such as constructing ramps and installing lifts, which are appreciated, Nakhro however, added that there is still a lack of awareness among the general public and officials regarding the importance of accessibility and why it is necessary.

Further elaborating on the importance of physical accessibility, she explained while PwDs may be able to enter a building, the ease of movement within the premises is rarely considered. Doorways in most of the office buildings, she said, are often too narrow for people with disabilities to navigate easily, and seamless accessibility, which allows independent movement, is lacking.

“Basic accessibility still remains inadequate in public spaces. People tend to believe that building ramps and installing lifts is sufficient for accessibility, but there is much more to it” stated Nakhro.

To this end, she emphasised that consideration must be given to various aspects of accessibility, including how individuals with disabilities can navigate an area, the presence of signage, and specific accommodations for visually impaired or hearing individuals. Unfortunately, Nakhro noted that many public spaces lack appropriate signage, and there is a general lack of awareness among both the public and government officials as well.

“We will continue to do our work. Awareness must become better so that we don’t have to keep pushing and pressing for all these things,” stated Nakhro.