Disability office in India inaccessible

From the Times of India:

PUNE -- The department of welfare of handicapped at the Pune Zilla Parishad (ZP), located near the district collectorate, has become inaccessible for the physically-challenged for the last five months due to the ongoing construction of a subway, which has blocked the two entrance points to the office.

Only a narrow opening at the main gate of the ZP has been left open. However, people with disability cannot use it as the opening contains a staircase and there is no provision for using wheelchairs.

The situation is expected to remain the same for the next six months when the welfare office shifts to the new ZP building being constructed near the existing office. The department receives at least 50 to 100 disabled visitors every day who seek information on various welfare schemes for education, rehabilitation and employment offered by the government.

Located at the Sassoon general hospital chowk, the handicapped welfare office for the Pune district delivers services to the differently-abled people from the district.

"Over 50 to 100 persons approach the office every day. As there is no easy entrance to the office, they often face problems. The situation has worsened as the work for the subway is expected to take more time," an employee of the department told TOI.

"We have been trying to help the visitors to come to the office. But it's been very difficult. Those who come in wheelchairs are asked to wait outside and we ask our staff to go out to meet them. We are also trying to minimise the time in processing their forms and applications,” the employee added.

The office also attends has visitors and representatives from various non-governmental organisations working for the physically-challenged people.

TS Kawate, social welfare officer, told TOI, "The administration has taken a decision to shift the office from the existing premises to the new administrative building. We expect to do so in the next six months as the construction work of the building is in its final stage. The approach road was widened and repaired recently, which will make the access easy."