New Delhi: The National Centre for Promotion of Employment for Disabled People (NCPEDP), a non-profit organization working for the empowerment of persons with disabilities, on Wednesday welcomed the installation of ambulifts at 20 airports in the country, as part of the Accessible India campaign.

“We are pleased to note that 20 airports have been fitted with ambulifts which will make travelling and commuting much easier for people with reduced mobility. We request, and sincerely hope that soon such facilities are installed across all of our airports. We all know inequitable access to public places puts disabled people at a disadvantage and such progressive measures shall help them overcome these challenges,” said Arman Ali, Executive Director, NCPEDP.

It is a matter of assurance that interventions towards accessibility are the focus of governments’ agenda. “Accessible India campaign is a sign of progressive inclusion of disabled people,” Ali added while highlighting the need for “continued upgrade of our social infrastructure to enable better access for the disabled”.

Under the campaign, 35 international airports and 55 out of 69 domestic airports were made accessible bringing relief and convenience to a large segment of our society. Forty-one airports are fully equipped with Aerobridges. Though there is much work to be done, initiatives like these will surely help disabled people in becoming a critical part of the mainstream economy and social structure, a release from the NCPEDP said.

The World Bank has noted that "Barriers to full social and economic inclusion of persons with disabilities include inaccessible physical environments and transportation, the unavailability of assistive devices and technologies, non-adapted means of communication, gaps in service delivery, and discriminatory prejudice and stigma in society." It also says that "Persons with disabilities are more likely to experience adverse socioeconomic outcomes such as less education, poorer health outcomes, lower levels of employment, and higher poverty rates."
 
"In our quest to empower the disabled and make them part of the mainstream, activities like installation of ambulifts will go a long way. We urge the Central and States government to design policies in keeping with the needs and aspirations of the disabled people", Ali said. /BI/