CABE Foundation collaborates with United Nations ESCAP to conduct a 2-day Training Program for Delhi Municipal Officers to Make Parks and Gardens Inclusive for All through Universal Design

Press Release

New Delhi, 03 Nov 2023 

In an initiative aimed at fostering inclusivity and accessibility for all, a comprehensive training program for municipal officials titled "Making Parks and Gardens Inclusive for All through Universal Design" was held during 02-03 November 2023 in the National Capital Territory of Delhi. The program was a collaborative effort between the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD), the State Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities, Delhi (SCPD), the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UN ESCAP), and the Centre for Accessibility in Built Environment Foundation (CABE Foundation). The UNESCAP and the CABE Foundation spearheaded and conducted the training program.

Inaugural Session of the 2 day training. Seen on the dias, Mr. Subhash Chandra Vashishth, Director CABE Foundation, speaking; and seated on dias (from left to right) Mr. TD Dhariyal, ED, CABE Foundation; Ms. Mikiko Tanaka, Director of the Subregional Office for South and South-West Asia, United Nations ESCAP ; Mr. Amit Kumr Sharma, Addl Commisioner (Horticulture)MCD; Air Cmde Ranjan Mukherjee, State Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities and Dr. Alok Singh, Director in Chief (Horticulture), MCD.

This training program was designed to address the pressing issue of accessibility in public spaces for diverse users particularly persons with disabilities, with a special focus on parks and gardens. The program itinerary included an array of sessions covering various aspects of inclusive park design and understanding the specific needs of individuals with disabilities. It also delved into international and national frameworks for disability inclusion.

Mr. TD Dhariyal speaking

Mr. TD Dhariyal, Executive Director of the CABE Foundation, delivered the opening remarks, emphasizing the importance of making public spaces more inclusive and accessibility directly relates to ensuring dignity of an individual with disability.  He also stated that the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act 2016 has clear mandate to ensure accessibility in public spaces and strict provisions for contravention.

Mr. Amit Kumar Sharma, Additional Commissioner (Horticulture), MCD, in his opening address exhorted the participants to be more empathetic to the needs of seniors, women, children and person with disabilities. 

Dr. Alok Singh speaking

Dr. Alok Kumar Singh Director in Chief, Horticulture in his address highlighted the MCD's commitment to the cause and to take forward the learnings from the program to make measurable changes on the ground to enhance accessibility and usability of their diverse parks. Mr. RK Singh and Mr. Ashish Priyadarshi, both Directors Horticulture were also pressent and played an important role in organsing the present training program.

Air Cmde Ranjan Mukherjee addressing

Air Commodore Ranjan Mukherjee VSM (Retd), State Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities, GNCT of Delhi underscored the significance of diversity inclusion in built environment as disability could happen to anyone any time and our infrastructure needs to gear up to meet the needs of its users. He shared several of his case judgements on the subject.

Ms. Mikiko Tanaka, Director of the Subregional Office for South and South-West Asia, United Nations ESCAP, provided international insights and perspectives particularly the compendium prepared by the UN ESCAP on the subject containing best practices from Asia and Pacific countries.  Ms. Li Stephanie Choo, Social Affairs Officer, UN ESCAP and Mr. Subhash Chandra Vashishth, Director CABE Foundation conducted the technical training. The training was based on the ESCAP Quick Guide and Compendium on Designing and Retrofitting Inclusive Public Parks and the Indian standards on accessibility of built public spaces.   

Ms. Mikiko Tanaka delivering her address

Following the opening ceremony, participants engaged in a series of interactive sessions, covering topics such as "Who are our users?" and "Technical features of inclusive park design." The first day classroom training followed with a site visit to Shaheedi Park at the ITO, a new park developed by the MCD, allowing participants to apply their knowledge in practical scenarios. 

The participants divided in to six groups conducted access survey of the Shaheedi park. Each group had one wheelchair user and one person simulating vision impairment exploring the park infrastructure and facilities. The groups presented their findings and recommendations to enhance accessibility of Shaheedi Park during the training program. Many participants expressed that if they had such a session before, their parks would have been more inclusive today. 

Participants at the Shaheedi Park for site visit

Most of them were happy that such a session took place which widened their knowledge spectrum and made them empathise and think inclusive in their work. The program saw participation from Horticulture, Civil Engineering and Education departments of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi.

Speaking on the side lines of the training program, Mr. Subhash Chandra Vashishth, Director of the Centre for Accessibility in Built Environment Foundation said, “We wanted to develop empathy in the municipal officials about the needs of persons with disabilities and also equip them with the Universal Accessibility standards so that they are able to incorporate the inclusivity from the design stage itself. The simulation exercise helped them understand and empathize”.

Participants undertaking simulation exercises.

This collaborative initiative reflects a commitment to creating an environment where public spaces are welcoming and accessible to everyone, regardless of their abilities. By addressing the challenges of inclusivity, the program aimed to contribute to a more equitable society where all citizens can enjoy and benefit from public parks and gardens.

This partnership will see development of Shaheedi Park as a model accessible theme park in Delhi and also to ensure that new parks under conceptualisation or development are fully accessible to the diverse needs of persons with disabilities, seniors, children, women alike. Sensory gardens, inclusive play spaces and inclusive facilities in the parks such as accessible toilets, enhanced accessibility of neighbourhood parks is also on the cards.

Fig. Training session in progresss in the Sabhagar 

For more information about the training program and its objectives and for media inquiries, please contact: Subhash Chandra Vashishth, Director, Centre for Accessibility in Built Environment Foundation, info@cabefoundation.com.

Visit our Facebook Page for more pictures.

 

CABE conducted an Access Sensitisation Workshop for North Municipal Corporation of Delhi

Sh. TD Dhariyal, State Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities 

for Govt. of Delhi explaining the mandate of RPWD Act 2016

01 Mar 2018, New Delhi

On an invitation from the North Municipal Corporation of Delhi, CABE Team today organised an Access Sensitisation Workshop for the Senior Engineers and Architects of the North MCD in presence of the State Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities Sh. TD Dhariyal. Incidentally, the North MCD is also facing notices from the Court of State Commissioner for inaccessibility of sidewalks, street infrastructure, public toilets and office buildings. Hon'ble Delhi High Court has also made strong observations in a public interest litigation filed by Sh. Nipun Malhotra against different civic bodies. The training was organised in this context so that the concerned officials were sensitised and trained on the mandate of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act  2016 and the accessibility requirements under the law and guidelines.

Fig A. Senior Engineers and Architects of the Corporation attending the Workshop

Fig B. Senior Engineers and Architects of the Corporation attending the Workshop

Fig. Sh. Amor Kool detailing the importance of Universal Design while planning and renovating infrastructure. 

The Rights of Persons with Disabilities, 2016 and the Rules notified by the Govt. of India thereunder require the Public Authorities to meet the mandate of accessibility in public infrastructure and transportation within five years of the notification while for organisations (both private and public) need to make their services accessible within two years of the notification of the Act. It has already a year since the law has passed and the ground reality presents a grim picture. Unless the municipalities and Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) immediately incorporate and adopt an Action Plan / Strategy Document for achieving the mandate of accessibility for the areas under their jurisdiction, it will be too late.

The RPWD Act 2016 presents an opportunity before the ULBs and developmental agencies to adopt Accessibility Plans for their areas for time bound implementation to promote inclusive communities in addition to smart cities. The time to act is now, before it is too late.

Invitation for a 2-Day National Workshop on National Building Code of India 2016: 20-21 Feb, 2018 at Vigyan Bhavan, New Delhi

Dear Colleagues,

The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS), as part of its efforts towards ensuring safety and sustainability of buildings and built environment, has been continuously working towards formulation and revision of Indian Standards on diverse areas impacting quality and safety of construction.  In this direction, BIS has revised the National Building Code of India (2005 version) and notified the latest version National Building Code of India -2016. 

In order to disseminate information about the the Code, BIS jointly with the Indian Buildings Congress (IBC), New Delhi, and in association with Central Public Works Department (CPWD), Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, is organizing a 2-day Workshop on "National Building Code of India 2016" on 20 & 21 February 2018 at Vigyan Bhavan in New Delhi, India. It may be noted that the speakers indicated in the workshop program below are Conveners/Expert members of the relevant chapters of the Code who have contributed in the revision of NBC. Session II is dedicated to the provisions on Accessibility covered in the National Building Code. 

A copy of the Invitation brochure published by Indian Buildings Congress can be accessed Here. 

2-day National Workshop on  National Building Code of India 2016 Tentative Program:

Tuesday, 20 February 2018
0900h – 1000h	Registration
1000h – 1100h	Inaugural Session
1100h – 1130h	High Tea
1130h – 1300h	Session I    Overview of NBC 2016 including Administration, Development  Control Rules & General Building Requirements Chairman: Shri V. Suresh (Convener, Panel for Administration, Development Control & General Building Requirements of NBC 2016) Speaker:      Shri Sanjay Pant (Head (Civil Engg), BIS)
1300h – 1400h	Lunch
1400h – 1445h	Session II    Provisions on Accessibility Chairman:    Shri T. N. Gupta (Convener, Panel for Building Materials, of NBC 2016) Speaker:      Shri Subhash Chandra Vashishth (Member, Panel for Administration,                      Development Control & General Building Requirements of NBC 2016)
1445h – 1630h	Session III   Fire and Life Safety Chairman:    Dr Anoop K Mittal (Sr Vice President, IBC & CMD, NBCC India Ltd.) Speaker:      Shri S.K. Dheri (Convener, Panel for Fire Protection of NBC 2016)                     Shri Gulshan Khurana (Member, Panel for Fire Protection of NBC 2016)                     Shri Sandeep Goel (Member, Panel for Fire Protection of NBC 2016)
1630h – 1645h	Tea
1645h – 1730h	Session IV   Asset and Facility Management Chairman:     Shri Deepak Narayan, Past President, IBC Speaker:       Shri Krishna Kant (Convener, Panel for Asset & Facility Management                       of NBC 2016)
Wednesday, 21 February 2018
1000h – 1130h	Session V    Structural Design Including Disaster Resistant Design of                      Structures Chairman:     Dr D. K. Paul (Chairman, Earthquake Engineering Committee of BIS) Speaker:       Shri V.V. Arora (Convener, Panel for Masonry of NBC 2016)
1130h – 1200h	Tea
1200h – 1300h	Session VI   Prefabrication, Systems Building and Mixed/Composite                      Construction   Chairman:    Shri Rajesh Goel, CMD, Hindustan Prefab Limited, New Delhi Speaker:      Shri M.P. Naidu (Convener, Panel for Prefabrication and Systems                      Building of NBC 2016)
1300h – 1400h	Lunch
1400h – 1500h	Session VII  Construction Management, Practices and Safety Chairman:     Shri H S Dogra (Chairman, CEDC, BIS)   Speaker:       Shri Jose Kurian (Convener, Panel for Concrete of NBC 2016)
1500h – 1545h	Session VIII Building Services - Electrical Installations Chairman:    Dr. Prem C. Jain (Convener, Panel for Sustainability of NBC 2016)  Speaker:      Smt Shruti Goel (Member, Panel for Electrical Installations, NBC2016)
1545h – 1600h	Tea
1600h – 1645h	Session IX  Building Services - ICT in Buildings Chairman:   Shri  Prabhakar Singh, Special DG, (DR.),CPWD Speaker:     Shri AK Mittal,(Convener, Panel for ICT in Buildings of NBC 2016)
1645h – 1745h	Panel Discussion cum Concluding Session Chairman:       Shri K.B. Rajoria, Past President, IBC      Panelists Topic Dr. Mahesh Kumar Water Shri Rajeev Goel Aggregates Dr. Vimal Kumar Bricks Shri J. Asudani Sand Shri H.K. Srivastava Skill Development Shri Rajesh Goel Transportation Shri Shishir Bansal  Centering & Shuttering
1745h	High Tea

Registration
Please note that the registration shall be done on first come first serve basis and registration is mandatory for entry to the workshop. For further details, enquiry and registration, please contact :

Shri Pradeep Mittal 
Hony. Secretary
Indian Buildings Congress,
Sector-VI, R.K. Puram, New Delhi-110022
Phone: 011-26170197, 26169531, Fax: 26196391
Mobile: 9811075333; 9311075333
Email: info@ibc.org.in, indianbldgscongress@gmail.com

About NBC

The National Building Code of India (NBC), a comprehensive building Code, is a national instrument providing guidelines for regulating the building construction activities across the country. It serves as a Model Code for adoption by all agencies involved in building construction works be they Public Works Departments, other government construction departments, local bodies or private construction agencies. The Code mainly contains administrative regulations, development control rules and general building requirements; fire safety requirements; stipulations regarding materials, structural design and construction (including safety); building and plumbing services; approach to sustainability; and asset and facility management.

Ribera Salud Group in Spain bats for Universal Accessibility in its Hospitals, to allow the Guide dogs in

Dear Colleagues,

This is welcome news from Costa Blanca - a city in Alicante province of Spain. Ribera Salud - a leading healthcare management group in Spain that manages the Torrevieja Hospital situated in Costa Blanca has announced plans with a series of special measures for patients and visitors with wide range of disabilities or mobility issues. Costa Blanca for the information of our readers, has a well-developed tourism industry and is a popular destination for British and German tourists.

Universal Accessibility in Hospitals

The managers of Ribera Salud describe these measures as their effort to provide ‘universal accessibility’ to an estimated 10 per cent of people that use the hospital and that it will improve the experience of these patients during either a temporary or longer stay.  This includes, for the first time, guide dogs to accompany their handlers, consultations conducted in sign language and a friend or relative to accompany them in the emergency department in extreme cases.

Other objectives of the plan are to minimize the length of time patients with disabilities need to wait between arriving at the hospital and being seen by the consultant doctors, by adapting the schedules of the health professionals accordingly.

A special training programme has also been developed aimed at the consultants and staff to guarantee the success of this plan of care, and the hospital has already carried out an information campaign through a series of leaflets in the main zones of the centre dealing with patient admission. Local institutions and associations dealing with people with disabilities or mobility issues have also been informed of the initiative so they can pass this on to their members.

Spain and India - both signatories to UNCRPD

It is pertinent to mention that Spain and India both signed the UNCRPD on 30 Mar 2007 when it was opened for signature. India subsequently ratified the CRPD on 01st October 2007 while Spain ratified it on 03rd December 2007 (on international day for persons with disabilities).

The accessibility improvements in Indian Hospitals are still in their initial stages. Guide dogs have yet no future in the Indian scenario with city and rural roads full of stray dogs and complete absence of any training institutions for training the service animals. Municipalities in India even today do not have clear enforceable rules on the duties of dog owners to collect the dog poo and spoil the neighborhood. We have a long way to go but good beginning has surely been made with the Accessible India Campaign' covering major hospitals for access audits and Indian Ministry of Health and Family Welfare focusing on private hospital chains also to ensure accessibility in their services in addition to Government run health services. The new Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act 2016 in India is a shot in arm that mandates even private establishments to incorporate accessibility in their built environment and services.

Source: RTNNewspaper dot com

Invitation for 'Accessibility Training Workshop for Future Professionals' during 09-12 Dec 2016 at SPA Bhopal

Dear Colleagues & Design Students,

As you must be aware, the Accessible India Campaign (Sugamya Bharat Abhiyan) was launched as a nation-wide campaign to achieve universal access for persons with disabilities (PwDs) on 03 Dec 2015 by Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities, Govt. of India so that equal access is provided to all, irrespective of age, ability and condition. To make inclusive cities a reality, it is very important for professionals to become socially aware and develop skills to address the related issues. 

To promote the objectives of the Campaign & to encourage understanding of challenges and opportunities for universal access in Indian cities, 'Centre for Human Centric Research' (CHCR) is organising “Accessibility Training Workshop for Future Professionals” at The School of Planning and Architecture (SPA), Bhopal (an ‘Institution of National Importance’, under MHRD, Govt. of India), for the students of architecture, planning, design, engineering and other related disciplines, from 9th-12th December, 2016. The workshop will give insight to universal access with focus on the implications of ability and disability on usability of the built environment, spaces, buildings, infrastructures and interfaces. 

Founder of CABE, Sh. Subhash Chandra Vashishth has also been invited to address the participants on  the Legal Framework on Accessibility and Universal Design and act as a Jury on the Design Competition.

If you are a student of architecture, planning, design, engineering or other related discipline and want to update yourself with the concepts of accessibility & universal design and want to learn its application in architecture, landscapes, heritage sites, urban design and planning, you are encouraged to register for the workshop scheduled from 09-12 December 2016. For more details visit http://accessibility.spabhopal.ac.in 

Here is the poster for the event:

We are looking forward to your participation. See you at the Workshop!  

Are your tweets complying with the accessibility mandate?

Dear Accessibility enthusiasts,

We all know that accessibility of built infrastructure or environment that includes transportation infrastructure, tourism infrastructure or heritage monuments & sites, accessibility of information & communication technology & services is mandatory under the India Laws. How many of us practice it in daily lives?

Lets talk about the simplest thing such as a tweet on the Twitter. We regularly attach photos to our tweets. while blind / visually impaired users are able to read our tweets but they miss what is there in the photos that you have attached. 

The tweet with a photo also allows to tag more number people (nearly 10) on the image/photo without counting them in limited text characters allowed thereby enhancing your reach.

Therefore, it is important that all our users / contacts are able to read and know what that photo you uploaded or tagged them on contains, irrespective of their disability.

Making your tweets accessible to blind users

When you tweet photos using the Twitter app for iOS or Android, or on twitter.com, you have the option to compose a description of the images so the content is accessible to people who are blind or visually impaired.

Steps to enable the Compose image descriptions setting and instructions for composing image descriptions using the following:

Twitter for Android

How to enable the composition of image descriptions from Twitter for Android

1. In the top menu, you will either see a navigation menu icon  or your profile icon. Tap whichever icon you have.
2. Tap Settings.
3. Tap Display and sound.
4. Tap Accessibility.
5. Next to Compose image descriptions, tick the box to turn the setting on or off.

How to add image descriptions in Tweets from Twitter for Android

1. Start by tapping the Tweet icon  and attach your photo(s).
2. On the image, tap Add description to insert descriptive text.
3. Type your description of the image and tap Apply. Tap the description again to edit it prior to posting the Tweet. (The limit is 420 characters.)
4. You can add a description to each image in a Tweet.
   Note: Image descriptions cannot be added to GIFs or videos.

Twitter for web (twitter.com)

How to enable the composition of image descriptions from twitter.com

1. Go to your Settings by clicking on your profile icon and selecting Settings from the dropdown (or by pressing the “g” key quickly, followed by the “s” key).
2. Click Accessibility from the list of settings.
3. Find the Compose image descriptions checkbox.
4. Check the box to turn the setting on or off.
5. Click Save changes.

How to add image descriptions in Tweets from twitter.com

1. Click on the Tweet compose button, or press the “n” key to use the keyboard shortcut.
2. Attach your photo(s).
3. To insert descriptive text, open the thumbnail preview dialog by clicking on the thumbnail. (If you are using the keyboard, focus the thumbnail using the “tab” key and press the “enter” key to open the thumbnail preview dialog).
4. Type your description of the image and click the Apply button. To edit the description, re-open the thumbnail preview dialog prior to posting the Tweet. (The limit is 420 characters.)
5. You can add a description to each image in a Tweet.Note: Image descriptions cannot be added to GIFs or videos.

 

Twitter for iOS

How to enable the composition of image descriptions from Twitter for iOS

1. Go to your Settings by tapping the Me tab and then the gear icon 
2. Tap Display and sound.
3. Tap Accessibility.
4. Next to Compose image descriptions, drag the slider to turn the setting on or off.

 How to add image descriptions in Tweets from Twitter for iOS

1. Start by tapping the Tweet icon  and attach your photo(s).
2. On the image, tap Add description to insert descriptive text.
3. Type your description of the image and tap Apply. Tap the description again to edit it prior to posting the Tweet. (The limit is 420 characters.)
4. You can add a description to each image in a Tweet.
   Note: Image descriptions cannot be added to GIFs or videos.

India takes strides to make world heritage sites accessible on this World Tourism Day

Dear colleagues,

United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) has been celebrating the World Tourism Day (WTD) on September 27 since the year 1980. The statue of UNWTO was adopted on 27th September 1970 which is considered as a milestone in global tourism. 

WTD is celebrated every year to raise awareness on the role of tourism within the international community and to demonstrate how it affects social, cultural, political and economic values worldwide. Universal Access in Tourism (UAT) responds to Article 2.2 of the UNWTO’s Global Code of Ethics for Tourism which states: “Tourism activities should respect the equality of men and women in that they should promote human rights and, more particularly, the individual rights of the most vulnerable groups, notably children, the elderly, the handicapped, ethnic minorities and indigenous people.”

UNWTO has decided to have the theme of #WTD2016 as Tourism for All - Promoting Universal Accessibility. The celebration of the World Tourism Day 2016 under the above theme comes at an encouraging time for international tourism as more political decision makers and the tourism industry are advocating for tourism for all, a tourism which can be enjoyed equally by everybody, regardless of one’s age or abilities. The event seeks to address global challenges outlined in the United Nations Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and to highlight the contribution the tourism sector can make in reaching these goals.

Reiterating the need of accessibility for all, the United Nations Secretary-General, Ban Ki-Moon, in his official message on World Tourism Day said, "Everyone has the right to access leisure and tourism services on an equal basis. Yet one billion people around the world living with disability, along with young children, seniors and persons with other access requirement, face obstacles in accessing fundamentals of travel such as clear and reliable information, efficient transportation and public services, and a physical environment that is easy to navigate. Even with modern technologies, those with visual, hearing, mobility or cognitive impairments are being left behind in many tourism destinations." 

India has 32 UNESCO recognised World Heritage Sites (WHS), which generate important revenues due to the large numbers of both domestic and international tourists. In the recent years, India has been focusing on making its tourism products and services accessible to all particularly the tourists with disabilities, seniors, children & women. Archaeological Survey of India is partnering with non-profits & other stakeholders to ensure that sensitive cultural monuments are adapted without damaging the unique heritage character of the monument yet, these become visitable by all on an equal basis with others. Of these, WHS like Qutb Minar & Red Fort in Delhi and Fatehpur Sikri in Agra have won National Tourism Awards for being made accessible  & disabled friendly in the past few years. Some other monuments are in the process. 

Though the pace of enhancing accessibility in tourism products is not as per the rising aspirations of the stakeholders, however the nation is on right track.  

Govt. of India under its Accessible India Campaign in partnership with Archaeological Survey of India, Ministry of Culture is planing to make major world heritage sites/ monuments accessible within a time bound manner, though the ASI have completed access improvements at some very promising projects on monuments under Delhi & Agra Circles. However, it needs to speed up the work. This is not just important to meet the legal mandate under the Persons with Disabilities Act 1995, UN Convention on the rights of persons with disabilities (UN CRPD) but also to attract a huge chunk of the section of potential tourists  that has some or the other form of disability. Many countries have achieved remarkable access improvements while India is still struggling due to inherent challenges. But there is hope - a hope for better accessibility at tourism sites so that persons with disabilities could also enjoy their rights to recreation, leisure and culture on an equal basis with others as enshrined in Article 30 of the CRPD.

On this World Tourism Day, we commit ourselves to make Indian Tourism sites & services welcoming to all with a greater vigour.