NEW DELHI: The Court of Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities, national capital territory of Delhi, has directed the chief administrator of Delhi and District Cricket Association to respond to a representation stating that the Feroz Shah Kotla stadium "has huge steps without side railings. There is no separate queue for spectators with disability. There is no reserved parking or reserved seat, and even toilets are not disabled-friendly".
The petitioner requests CCPD to instruct DDCA to make Kotla accessible to spectators with disabilities within one year, before the T20 World Cup and IPL 2016 are hosted there. He also suggests some measures to make the stadium barrier-free.
In his petition to CCPD on April 29, activist Dr Satendra Singh, who is coordinator, enabling unit, at University College of Medical Science, Delhi University, has said that "the Feroz Shah Kotla cricket stadium in Delhi is not accessible to people with disabilities, so we, our families and friends cannot enjoy equal access to entertainment, recreation, and leisure. I am unable to watch IPL T20 or other matches scheduled at this venue".
Article 30 of United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD) puts onus on states to enable disabled to participate on an equal basis with others in recreation, leisure and sporting activities. "The legal requirements under PWD Act 1995 and, more importantly, obligation under ratification of UNCRPD by India must be taken account by DDCA in making reasonable adjustment to physical barriers and services in existing and new stadia," Singh said.
Singh has suggested reserved seats for disabled, wheelchair-accessible seats, companion seats and reserved accessible parking close to the entrance gate. A separate exit for disabled spectators is a good idea. The path to the stadium and seat should be made in such a way that even a wheelchair user can move independently. All routes should be level or have the shallowest possible gradient.
There must be accessible toilets, lift to reach all vertical levels and ramped access, and a dedicated officer to look into any problem a spectator with disability may have during the match. The contact number of this person should be present on all tickets reserved for spectators with disabilities, Singh says.
Singh has suggested reserved seats for disabled, wheelchair-accessible seats, companion seats and reserved accessible parking close to the entrance gate. A separate exit for disabled spectators is a good idea. The path to the stadium and seat should be made in such a way that even a wheelchair user can move independently. All routes should be level or have the shallowest possible gradient.
There must be accessible toilets, lift to reach all vertical levels and ramped access, and a dedicated officer to look into any problem a spectator with disability may have during the match. The contact number of this person should be present on all tickets reserved for spectators with disabilities, Singh says.
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