Sunday Times 2
Candidates overlook the biggest minority group
It is a real tragedy that, even after valiant efforts, the manifestos of the Presidential Candidates seeking our votes, fail to recognise the country’s biggest minority group – a huge voting base when their families are also added.
The inevitable accidents, debilitating illnesses, wear & tear of the body, etc., not forgetting the ended 30 years of war, regardless of race, ethnicity, religion, caste, physical shape, have already robbed not less than 20% of our population of their abilities to see, walk, climb or even stand steadily, whether that be to a greater or lesser extent, whether permanently or temporarily.
This significant number is affected badly by even the new and recently RENOVATED public buildings that overlook Parliament-approved standards for building parts and also violate Supreme Court’s orders.
Actions must start immediately to promote the Right to Accessibility. Illustration courtesy www.jeffpreston.ca
Safety of customers under all conditions is not negotiable for a business. Inclusion of all customers in embracing human diversity is paramount for the growth and success of businesses and to maximize its potential. Can any business afford to marginalise this way anybody who needs to do business with them?
It was expected that these putative leaders of tomorrow would propose effective measures to arrest the marginalisation, safety hazards, unwanted dependency, waste of human potential and the loss of gainful opportunities to become equal partners, etc., thus faced by not fewer than four (4) million of these voters.
Access for all really means Access For Justice which can no more be delayed!
Mahinda Chintana, in fact, talked about dis-Ability related access in 2005 and 2010. The Vision-2010 of the President recognised: “Accessibility is particularly important for vulnerable groups for making Sri Lanka a truly dis-Abled friendly country – free of physical, social and attitudinal barriers”.
It is a real tragedy that caring for those with restricted mobility, a crucial national need, has now been dropped from the President’s 2015 manifesto!
The biggest minority group
Sri Lanka has the fastest ageing population in our region with almost 17 per cent of the population soon being over 65 years.
Every one of us, inevitably, undergoes a process of decay and also often meets at some time in life a natural or man-made disaster or numerous debilitating conditions which rob and restrict our ability to attend to day-to-day activities.
When one adds here the youth affected by numerous debilitating medical conditions (such as arthritis, vertigo, hip and joint problems, neuropathy, etc.,) and those convalescing after surgery and illnesses, this number is more than one in five in Sri Lanka.
The Supreme Court of Sri Lanka in its given orders of 27 October 2011, even adds pregnant mothers to this category.
Unable to move freely, this huge sector of people are often forced silently to fight an uphill battle daily in approaching, accessing and using public buildings and facilities with safety – an essential prerequisite in everyone’s normal life.
Legislation recognises ‘a public building’ as any Government or Private Sector Building used by the public in daily life. More than 70% of such buildings belong to the more affluent private sector.
A malady of national importance
Almost all of us, for different reasons, are certain to spend some of our time living with abilities restricted, in getting around (moving and seeing), physical coordination, manual dexterity and ability to concentrate, learn or understand.
However, for this fast increasing ‘the biggest minority group’ of Sri Lankans, everyday activities should NOT become a daunting task to accomplish.
Degree of the mobility should never be a disadvantage especially at places of education for children, who are our future leaders.
When we disregard conformity with standards for constructing all parts of public buildings, such buildings end-up DIS-ABLING and turn them to potential safety hazards and also exclude people from participating fully as equal members of society.
Even the new constructions and recent renovations of reputed hospitals – some even aiming for JCI international recognition and awards, 5-star hotels, international sports stadia and places of higher education contribute most to this national debacle, having not even a single truly accessible toilet.
We as a developing country, is focusing a formidable and sustainable national economy. It is thus imperative to arrest such colossal waste.
Dr. Ajith Perera: Crusade on wheels
Leaving these issues unresolved is a growing threat to the economic and social development of our country and the quality of people’s lives. Sri Lanka can no more remain inept to such tragedy!
Tourism industry the worst affected
Baby-boomer generation has begun to retire into its travel years. As invisible debilitating conditions world over are ever rapidly increasing, we witness fast growing ‘ability restricted’ senior touring populations of the world demand their right for equal access. They are an unrecognized but growing niche – certainly an overlooked growth market.
Their high spending potential still remains untapped by Sri Lanka due to facilities not meeting accepted design standards.
Nevertheless, the new Shopping malls built in Colombo and even new and renovated hotels meant to cater to foreign tourists and boost our tourism industry and human rights image, in spite of ignoring design standards for accessibility and safety are rather disgracefully, still, awarded even five and six star status. These awarding procedures must be remedied immediately.
A costly miss by politicians
The way a country treats this ‘dis-Abled’ population is an internationally recognized measure of a country’s good governance and a far more telling indicator of society’s development than GDP.
The Supreme Court has recognised the importance of this unlawful playing with human life and has ruled that anything less than full compliance is a serious punishable offence attracting punitive repercussions.
However, the violators often backed by political powers, still, continue to go free; the victims are stranded and must either plead and earn the good-will of violators or suffer further!
As such, can the Presidential Candidates justify how they can afford to overlook the marginalization and safety hazard often faced by this biggest minority group and the silent battle they then fight daily?
Towards a Suba Anagathayak
For nearly a decade , we have heard politicians and bureaucrats talk ebulliently of ‘Access to safe and secure built environments for all’, ‘Social integration and inclusion than exclusion’, ‘Making Sri Lanka a truly dis-Abled friendly country’ and ‘Integration of those with restricted ability into society for full participation in all spheres of daily life as useful and equal partners’.
As the Vision-2010 page 192 states, aims were to mobilise persons with restricted ability, empower and integrate them into society as useful and equal partners.
What matters most is: ‘After ten years, although the measures required to achieve them are low cost and easily feasible, have they become a meaningful reality to any significant degree?’
The simple answer is “NO”.
Proposed short-term remedial action
To make built-environments safer and more user-friendly for all is imperative for a better tomorrow. However, no presidential candidate has pledged to promote its meaningful implementation and thereby uplift the quality of life of such a huge voting base.
Authorities in all fields, especially in the hospitality, health, sports and education sectors, and the presidential candidates in particular, should wake up and think of their moral duty, legal obligation and social responsibility to fast track RIGHTLY: Barrier-free inclusive and accessible Sri Lanka for all.
The way forward is to fast track action.
(1). To establish an overall mechanism for the effective and meaningful overall enforcement and implementation of these laws and court orders by the apex court for prevent issuing of ‘C.O.C’s to illegal buildings failing to comply totally with the stipulated design standards and legal requirements.
(2). To require decision makers to obtain periodic guidance and advice from those with proven expertise in complying with design standards for inclusion, backed by specific practical experience and thorough working knowledge on accessibility – a rare commodity indeed!
For two reasons this is an essential prerequisite.
(i) Reality has proved repeatedly that it is a costly blunder to believe professionals in the building construction industry are competent enough to establish a society inclusive and accessible to all.
(ii). Complying with standards to ensure accessibility with safety is a much specialised job. It is NOT one where standards and specifications can be read and easily applied. Often it causes waste and added safety hazards.
(3). To enforce a system of independent audit of compliance at built environments, especially at Hotels, Hospitals and places of Higher Education.
Actions must start immediately to promote the Right to Accessibility for all and thereby arrest this national tragedy that affects the country’s biggest minority group.
Unless and until it happens, this significant voting population will not be able to see a secured future as equal partners in national development nor can they truly cherish the dream of a brighter tomorrow.
| * Dr. Ajith C. S. Perera – a former senior manager in industry, was left instantly a paraplegic for life by a falling way side tree in 1992. By reason of this personal adversity he has bounced back to serve humanity – most importantly as a widely experienced accessibility activist/advisor/auditor, facts of which have been befittingly recognised even by reputed bodies overseas. For more information please see http://www.sundaytimes.lk/150104/ |