Filing of Case
In August 2020, I filed a case against my Apartment Owners Association – Elita Promenade Apartment Owners Association (EPAOA) to enforce my right to live in the community and participate fully and equally in community life. This was addressed before the Karnataka State Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities (SCPD). On September 11, 2020, Mr. V. S. Basavaraju, the Honourable SCPD, convened a hearing. Post the hearing, the SCPD provided directions to the Apartment Association to remedy the issues discussed.
Steps Taken Post SCPD’s Directions
Pursuant to SCPD’s intervention, the Association reported the following actions:
- Initiation of placing braille buttons in elevators.
- Removal of obstructions like bikes and dust bins from pathways for accessibility.
- Deletion of discriminatory remarks from community members.
Furthermore, they formed a committee to strategize and execute measures promoting independent living and inclusive participation of everyone in community life.
Assessment of Progress
While these initial measures by the Apartment Association were praiseworthy, indicating a genuine intent to foster an inclusive environment for persons with disabilities, it’s essential to address a critical update. Despite the SCPD’s clear directions and the passage of time, the EPAOA has not fulfilled their commitments comprehensively. Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) residing at Elita Promenade continue to encounter daily accessibility challenges, both physically and digitally. The full promise of inclusion and accessibility remains elusive.
The Way Forward
The actions taken by the Apartment Association were a step in the right direction, but there remains a significant distance to cover before true equality, autonomy, and independence are realized for all residents.
The Central and State Government’s roles are pivotal here. To catalyze change across communities, the Central Government should enact rules under the RPwD Act. These rules should mandate resident welfare and apartment owners’ associations to ensure full and equal participation of persons with disabilities in every facet of community life. This initiative will propel the movement towards genuinely inclusive communities, aligning perfectly with the Accessible India policy of the Government of India.
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