Crippled by law

Rule 45 stipulates that the local authorities shall, with the limits of their economic capacity, provide for institution of auditory signals at red lights on public roads for the benefit of persons with visual handicap, cause curb cuts and slopes to be made in pavements for easy access of wheel chair users, have engravings on the surface of zebra crossings and on the edge of railway platforms for the blind or for persons with low vision. It also calls for devising appropriate symbols of disability and warning signals at appropriate places.

Rule 46 talks about ramps in public buildings, adaption of toilets for wheelchair users, braille symbols and auditory symbols in elevators or lifts, ramps in hospitals, primary health centres and other medical care and rehabilitation institutions.

Needless to say, these rules are limited to their texts and it is a crippled system that is making life difficult for the physically handicapped.