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Tuesday, 6 January 2015 01:46 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
This significant number is affected badly by even the new and recently-renovated public buildings that overlook the Parliament-approved standards for building parts and also violate the Supreme Court’s orders.
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 the maximization of their potential. Can any business afford to marginalise its customers in this way?
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 million of these voters.
Access for all really means access to justice which can no more be delayed!
In fact, Mahinda Chinthana talked about disability related access in 2005 and 2010. The 2010 vision 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.
"In fact, Mahinda Chinthana talked about disability related access in 2005 and 2010. The 2010 vision 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.”
However, for this fast increasing biggest minority group of Sri Lankans, everyday activities should not become a daunting task to accomplish. The degree of mobility should never be a disadvantage especially at places of education for children, who are our future leaders
The way a country treats this ‘dis-Abled’ population is an internationally recognised measure of a country’s good governance and a far more telling indicator of society’s development than GDP"
The biggest minority group in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka has the fastest ageing population in our region with almost 17% 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 our daily 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 order 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 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 our abilities restricted, in getting around (moving and seeing), physical coordination, manual dexterity and ability to concentrate, learn or understand.
However, for this fast increasing biggest minority group of Sri Lankans, everyday activities should not become a daunting task to accomplish.
The degree of 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 disabling and turn into 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, five 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, are focusing on a formidable and sustainable national economy. It is thus imperative to arrest such colossal waste.
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 worst affected
The baby boomer generation has begun to retire into its travel years. As invisible and debilitating conditions the world over are rapidly increasing, we witness the fast growing ‘ability restricted’ senior touring populations of the world demanding a right for equal access. They are an unrecognised 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 the 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 recognised 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 goodwill of violators or suffer further.
As such, can the presidential candidates justify how they can afford to overlook the marginalisation 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 rather than exclusion’, ‘Making Sri Lanka a truly dis-Abled friendly country’ and ‘The integration of those with restricted ability into society for full participation in all spheres of daily life as useful and equal partners’.
As page 192 of Vision-2010 states, the 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
It is imperative to make built environments safer and more user-friendly for all for a better tomorrow for a developing Sri Lanka. However, amazingly, 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: a 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.Cs 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 a 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 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 Rights to Accessibility for all and thereby arrest this national tragedy that affects the country’s biggest minority group.
Unless and until this happens, this significant voting population will not be able to see a secure 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 a paraplegic for life by a fallen wayside 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://goo.gl/3FWyW)
