Lutyens' Delhi area should be developed as 'model accessible place': Official

The prime Lutyens' Delhi area should be developed as a "model accessible place" for the disabled for other civic bodies to emulate, a senior official of the city government today said.

Lutyens' Delhi, which is home to several government offices and a number of private companies, falls under the administrative control of the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC).

NDMC area should be developed as a model accessible place for other corporations to emulate," Commissioner Disabilities, in the Delhi government T D Dhariyal, said.

Addressing a gathering at a seminar here on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016, the senior official also suggested that all department in the city government should have a grievance redressal cell or an officer, for addressing complaints filed by persons with disabilities.

"Social awareness has to be there, persons with disabilities should be made aware of their rights, Dhariyal said.

Making an area accessible means providing ramps on steps or having a separate bathroom, among other amenities, with visible signages.

Besides, accessibility, skill development, employment and redressal mechanism under the Act were also deliberated upon by experts during the event organised by the National Centre for Promotion of Employment for Disabled People.

"We should focus on those people, who are excluded while designing the infrastructure, Ruchira Sarin of Diversity and Equal Opportunity Centre (DEOC) said.

Accessible norms have to be followed for buildings and services as well, she added.

The speakers also paid homage to the late disability activist, Javid Abidi, who died earlier this month.