Imperative national requisite
How
astounding it was that after writing in this column on October 25 about
Dr Abdul Kalam, the 11th President of India, regarded as the ‘missile
man of India,’ who strongly advocates an action plan to develop his
Motherland into a knowledge super power and to a developed nation, I had
the rare opportunity of listening to one of our own ‘Action Men’, Dr
Ajith C S Perera, giving a live discourse with equal vim and vigour
about our own Motherland focusing on the subject, ‘not to miss
opportunities in our hands in promoting a sustainable national economy’.
The 90 minute oration was organized at Subud House, Bambalapitiya by
a dynamic group of business and professional women who are renowned for
their out-and-out dedication on social welfare activities through two
tiers of their organization - mature and experienced and the young
professional women.
The altruistic projects carried out by this Association over a long
period of time by the founder and a long time President of Mrs
Bandaranaike ilk are on record to justify any comments.
The ‘Action man’
The ‘Action man’ on the oration, Dr Ajith C S Perera is a Chartered
Chemist by profession who became a victim of paraplegia in 1992
consequent to a natural accident by a tree crashing on to his car during
stormy weather.
From 1997 he has been a channel campaigning in Sri Lanka as an
‘accessibility mentor’ on disability issues pioneering and advising how
to facilitate environments for everyone.
Senior citizens
Dr Ajith C S Perera |
Idiriya is a registered charitable organization functioning under Dr
Perera’s voluntary direction which focuses on to fill the void in
disability issues and to advice, guide, campaign and stimulate interest
on this crucial subject with the assistance of a glut of our competent
architects, designers and builders to perform a significant task and
contribute for ‘designing buildings for enabling all’.
During the stimulating presentation Dr Perera unlocked the minds of
the audience highlighting the opportunities that Sri Lanka continues to
miss in promoting a sustainable national economy. In ten years time, he
prophesised a 50 percent of the population will be senior citizens; an
alarming increase in road accidents, man-made and natural disasters,
debilitating medical conditions including uncontrollable diabetes are
going to add to the responsibilities of the State.
Right now an estimated 15 percent of Sri Lanka’s population lives
with an inevitable drop in physical abilities (which includes a fair
percentage of dedicated security personnel who fought to save our
Motherland over a period of 30 years from a terrorist clutch). Dr Perera
looks into the future through microscope with a powerful, magnified lens
and says that it is ‘certain to experience at some time in life’
restrictions in our ability in mobility, in sight, hearing as well as in
memory. The question is ‘NOT if that happens, but WHEN it happens.’
The quality of life, he perceives, is greatly dependent to the extent
where people could make use of buildings, facilities and technology for
their indispensable and desirable needs in daily life. With such
thoughts he convinces us as to why Sri Lanka should get into the fast
track access. His answers are many folds. Firstly, we need to find ways
to recognize and re-involve everyone equally in an expansion
progression. ‘Designing for inclusion’ is the effective way to arrest
waste and make everyone ‘equal partners’ in development, he asserts.
Accessibility minimizes unwanted dependencies, reduces poverty
through enhanced employment opportunities and has the potential to make
everyone productive. It promotes everyone equally to be as independent
as possible with dignity in attending to daily activities, such as
banking, shopping and recreation.
Public buildings
Accessibility when established specifically in complying with clear
and definite standards for all, building components, TOILETS in
particular, will promote safety and enhances physical as well as mental
well-being of everyone. These are essential prerequisites for national
development and sustainable national economy. Business professionals
should make certain that access to all business premises should be open
to the public need in daily life as a ‘welcome all’ gesture and deny
none. Every potential customer is a business opportunity, he maintains.
Regulations for access to public buildings and places, gazetted on
October 17, 2006 under the reference: 1467/15 which received
Parliamentary approval and subsequent Supreme Court endorsement last
year through its order SCFR 221 / 2009 has made it mandatory for all NEW
buildings to comply with legislations and Sri Lanka Standard for
building construction. Hence accepting and respecting these becomes a
mandatory requirement by Law and a moral duty of every law-abiding
citizen in Sri Lanka.
‘Accessibility’ has become a national issue. Effective
implementation, barring any discrimination, is what is now crucial. It
would make the ‘disadvantaged people’ feel that they too are ‘ equally
Able’ and Not ‘Differently able’ and thereby the country and society are
certain to benefit immensely.
Social exclusion
Strategic planning by the Government is vital to assist and deliver
to the vulnerable society in the next generation. Public Services are at
the forefront of the Government’s efforts to reduce social exclusion. If
disadvantaged people are to make more choices about what, where, when
and how public services are provided then it becomes obligatory to offer
them better services that are more effective and relevant to their lives
than ever before.
At the same time there needs to be mutual respect between service
users and the frontline professionals who are going all out to help
them.
So many public services touch the lives of ordinary people and yet
the voice of those most vulnerable and reliant on them is rarely heard.
Public services are there to serve every section of society and everyone
is entitled to expect high quality services that fully address their
needs.
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