ASI gesture to disabled

By Lalit K. Jha

NEW DELHI, FEB. 6.

There is heartening news for thousands of physically challenged persons across the country. The Archaeological Survey of India has decided to make its monuments including the Taj and Khajuraho accessible to them by providing ramps.

As a direct consequence of this decision, temporary wooden ramps provided by the ASI during the recent visit of eminent physicist Stephen Hawking would now be a permanent feature at the Red Fort, Humayun's Tomb and Qutab Minar.

In the first phase, over two dozen monuments in the country including all the World Heritage Sites would be made accessible to the physically challenged persons. A decision in this regard was taken by the Union Tourism Minister, Mr. Ananth Kumar, and the ASI Director General, Ms. Komal Anand, in consultation with the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, about a fortnight ago.

Following this, Ms. Anand has directed all her officials to make their monuments accessible to the physically challenged persons as early as possible. However, the officials have been directed not to erect any permanent structure. The ramps and the other structures created for the purposes of accessibility should not affect the sanctity of the monument or appear to destroy its visual appeal.

``All the monuments should be made accessible to physically challenged persons as far as possible,'' is the argument being put forth by the ASI officials now, following a large hue and cry over the issue by social activists of the disability sector coinciding with Prof. Hawking's visit.

Officials in charge of these monuments have been asked to submit a detailed report in this regard to the Director General as to how their monuments could be made accessible for persons with disability. Following this, ramps and other utility services would be provided at these monuments so that the thus far neglected and deprived section of the society enjoy their trip to the monument, officials said.

With Delhi being the centre of a movement launched by the disability sector during and after the visit of Stephen Hawking, a feasibility study on the issue of accessibility for the various monument in the Capital in this regard is already on which is already being seen as a big victory for them.

Based on their order of popularity, the ASI has identified as many as 27 monuments of national and importance for this purpose. This includes the Taj Mahal, Agra Fort, Fatehpur Sikri, Tughlakabad Fort, Sun Temple at Konark, group of monument at Mahabalipuram, and Elephanta caves in Maharashtra.

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