Volume 2 Issue 7

Feature

• Five easy steps to make General Elections 2004 disabled-friendly
  Nearly more than 40 million disabled people in India cannot play any role in India's democratic processes. These are the disabled persons of the country, a uniquely disenfranchised group. It is very unfortunate that even in the forthcoming General Elections -- the first of the 21st century -- our polling booths will still be inaccessible and hostile to disabled persons across India. The Convener of Disabled Rights Group, Javed Abidi, presents five simple ways in which India's disable persons -- the country's so far invisible electorate -- can be helped to exercise its franchise.

Interview

• 'It's a privilege helping people': Neeru Vaid
  It's a privilege being a lawyer and helping people" says Neeru Vaid in an interview with Anne-Marie Prayas. This young lawyer, who has helped several disabled people acquire what they rightfully deserved, shyly narrates the experiences which have won her fame.

News

• Disabled persons too want to vote
  Lack of sensitivity by the Election Commission towards the impediments that disabled people face at polling booths has disappointed this sector.
• Disabled seek political space
  In an unprecedented show of strength, India's physically challenged people came out of their shell on March 20 and demanded their share of attention from political parties by, for starters, including their needs in election manifestos.
• Javed Abidi: Candidate for the differently abled
  In a bid to bring the issues of persons with disabilities into the open, noted disability rights activist Javed Abidi will contest the coming Lok Sabha polls as an independent candidate from New Delhi constituency.
• President Kalam urged to make voting disabled-friendly
  The Disabled Rights Group (DRG), a non-political advocacy group, has appealed to the President, Dr A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, to impress upon the Election Commission to concede its five-point demands to facilitate smooth voting for the more than 40 million physically disabled people.
• Visibility in election manifestos
  India's disabled electorate has, so far, have been shrouded in a veil of invisibility - it is not mentioned in any election manifesto, polling booths are not accessible for them, and poll rhetoric simply ignores them, unaware of their very existence.
• Blind doctor set to practice medicine
  Dr Toppo, who became the first blind person in the country to successfully complete his medical course, is now all set to practice medicine following his registration with Delhi Medical Council.
• SC notice to Centre on care of mentally ill
  The Supreme Court on Monday issued a notice to the Centre on a petition seeking a direction to the authorities concerned to provide medical care to mentally ill persons in the country, according to a report in The Times of India.
• Disabled passengers' nightmare at domestic airport
  Lack of special parking areas, high check-in counters, 'disabled-friendly' toilets that are difficult for a physically impaired person to use and a staff untrained in handling people with special needs. These are just some of the problems that were identified when an access survey was conducted to assess the ground reality at the domestic airport, reports The Times of India.
• HC orders disability pension for Army man sacked in 1964
  The Himachal Pradesh High Court has directed the Government of India to grant disability pension to Sarwan Singh, who was removed from service on medical grounds in 1964, reports The Tribune.
• Stress on special education
  The Rehabilitation Council of India says that the range of professional courses it runs can help meet the demand for special educators in upper primary and primary schools.