Welcome signs
Physical obstacles abound in our public spaces, severely hampering the participation of the disabled. When it comes to our historical monuments, with their steep stairways, narrow corridors and the exclusivist and often imperialist concerns of another century, its far worse. The Taj Mahals splendid symmetry and numinous romance, for instance, may have got it hundreds of thousands of tourists a year, but until now it didnt lend itself to be experienced by the physically challenged. Its a pointer to a gross disregard for the concerns of the disabled while making policies, planning infrastructure and carving tourist destinations that we forgot to put ramps to grant them easy access. We neglected to make our maps and signages tactile for the visually challenged. Now, finally, the government is making amends and attempting to make some of the monuments, including a few World Heritage Sites (WHS), accessible to the disabled.
The Centre has decided to grant Rs. 5 crore to the Archaeological Survey of India to create the necessary infrastructure wide pathways, ramps, accessible toilets, detailed descriptions and notice boards in Braille, audio devices and modified ticket counters to make the monuments disabled-friendly. The buildings zeroed in are the WHSs of Fatehpur Sikri, the Agra Fort, the Taj, the Sun Temple at Konark, and 25 other ticketed monuments. It is, though delayed, a move in the best traditions of inclusive and accessible tourism.
A nations cultural symbols and architectural heritage are eloquent expressions not just of a glorious past but also of its present preoccupations. And we need to re-adapt our buildings, remove their old barriers, to reflect them. These are indeed welcome signs.