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BANGALORE, INDIA, February 8, 2004: Even as efforts are being made to make all public buildings and other places in the State accessible to the disabled, as mandated by the Persons with Disabilities Act, 1995, entry to temples has been overlooked. However, temples will soon be made disabled friendly. The office of the Commissioner for Disabilities has directed the Department of Religious and Charitable Endowments to implement Section 46 of the Act which provides for barrier-free access for the disabled to religious places in the State. “A common complaint made by persons with disabilities during grievance meetings was that they could not visit temples, due to their inability to climb steps or wait for long hours in queues,” Pradeep Kumar, Assistant Commissioner for Disabilities, said. “We wrote to the commissioner of the department concerned to direct all temple organizations to ensure that disabled persons, especially those confined to wheelchairs, do not face difficulties in entering places of worship,” he said. “In keeping with the guidelines of the Act, if the temples have steps, ramps have to be constructed so that wheelchair users can enter the premises. Boards have to be put up directing disabled persons to special entrances or ramps. Special arrangements have to be made during pujas or offerings so that these persons do not have to stand in the queue to gain access. This was applicable also to mentally ill persons, who may get restless in queues,” Mr. Pradeep Kumar said.

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