Government issues directives to make public places disabled-friendly

KATHMANDU: If you are facing any problem to access public places due to physical disabilities, you will soon be able to access these institutions like normal person if the government becomes serious to turn its word into reality.

The Ministry of Women, Children and Social Welfare has issued directives to develop public places bearing in mind the convenience of people with special needs.

The Ministry has defined government buildings, hospitals, universities, organizations, religious sites, recreational places, public roads, pavements, parking areas, play grounds and conference halls as ‘public places’. Business complexes opened for public, residential buildings, hotels and restaurants, and banks have also been categorized as ‘public places’.

The public means of communications like television channels and radio stations have also been directed to compulsorily represent persons with various physical disabilities.

A meeting of the Council of Ministers on February 17 had approved the directives that aimed to address the voices of Nepal Federation of Disabled.

The directives also stated that physical infrastructure in public places be made in such a way that there should not be any obstruction in the movement of people with special needs, and guiding blocks be installed on the pavements to ensure their smooth movement. It also sought an alternative to overhead bridges since they are not friendly for people with physical disabilities.