Disabled toilets not so accessible in public spaces of Bengaluru
The 2016 Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act (RWPDA), requires all public buildings and public toilets to be accessible for persons with disabilities. However, according to a claim by the 2024 report by R.V. University's Centre for Disability Justice (CDJI) and Inclusion and Centre for Gender Studies (CGS), the city has only 360 public toilets — greatly inadequate for a population exceeding 1.4 crores. The study examined 65 public toilets out of which only 14 had specific stalls for persons with disability.
To use disabled washrooms calls for a frustrating series of inquiries in public spaces of Bengaluru. For instance, in places like Cubbon Park and Lalbagh metro stations, Shivajinagar and Shantinagar bus stations, in the middle of the city, disabled toilets have to be unlocked by the authorities before they can be used, according to a reality check conducted by The Hindu.
Disabled persons reported that finding the right authorities is a task in itself.
Yashwant Chavan, Public Relations Officer of the BMRCL however, claimed that every metro station has disabled toilets, which are properly accessible.
Even Cubbon Park, a popular spot among city dwellers and tourists, doesn't provide toilet facilities designed for people with disabilities.
However, Jagadeesh M., Joint Director, Parks and Gardens, Horticulture Department said that the facilities in the park are disabled friendly. 'We are also trying to improve the conditions of these toilets,' he said.
Disabled people also highlighted that while certain places claim to be disabled friendly, they fail to install basic features like grab bars, accessible toilets, and wider turning spaces for wheelchairs along with doors that open outwards.
S. Navya, who suffers ambulant disability, shed light on the complications involved while receiving aid. 'It is scary when you have to depend on someone else to help sit on toilets, or be pushed on a wheelchair ramp because you need to fully entrust someone.'
Ms. Rose said 'I wish toilets with higher seats would be implemented. Being disabled doesn't only mean wheelchair users, but includes people like myself who have trouble walking but do not use wheelchairs.'
In a few other places, disabled toilets are often used as storage spaces and some public disabled toilets are permanently locked, the disabled people mentioned. Like most other public toilets, disabled toilets also suffer from cleanliness problems.
Brijendra Singh, a non-ambulant wheelchair user, expressed concerns over the risk of catching infections after using public restrooms because of unsanitary conditions and poor maintenance.
All these issues have been highlighted time and again by representatives of the community.
Venkatesh M., Secretary of Karnataka State Disabled and Caregiver Federation, lamented, 'We have protested, we have given notices. When we give those letters to government officials, no proper action is taken. We have given it to Deputy Commissioner too. They will give us dates for the next meeting, by then the current DC would have changed.'
He further said that this problem is also common in toll plazas. The newer ones have toilets for disabled, but not some of the older toll plazas.
Recently, there has been some progress in providing accessibility in this regard, according to S. Babu, Deputy Director of The Association of People with Disabilities.
'In 2023, in collaboration with the Urban Development Department of Karnataka, a study was conducted to understand the accessible facilities available for persons with disability. This study made us go ahead and launch an app called Yes2Access. All public places of Karnataka are under the process of connecting accessibility through the app.
'We are working with the Commissioner of Persons with Disability and the Directorate of Disability Welfare. Almost 7,000 staff have been involved in this whole process. No State in India has done this amount of value of accessibility.'
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