Surath Paura (Wall of hands) :

Tide against convention-riddled society

by Ranga CHANDRARATHNE

One year after the fateful accident, Samitha Samanmali who suffered severe spinal injuries, is now studying for her final year at the Faculty of Medicine in the University of Colombo. Her world has changed following the accident in a way that would not be irrevocable. Though Samitha copes with her debility with a wall of hands and virtually thousands of well-wishers, she now looks on persons of the same plight who have to face the brunt of legal and social constraints in leading a productive lives as fully-fledged citizens in a world riddled with conventions.

Samitha Samanmali examining patients

Surath Paura (Wall of hands), the foundation envisioned by her would gather information in order to bring about a positive change to lives without voice.

The Surath Paura Foundation would directly coordinate with the Government even at policy level to bring about changes in policy with regard to the rights of the persons with disabilities. Though there is a plethora of organisations for the welfare of the persons with disabilities, the contribution they can make is minimal given the large number of persons with disabilities in the country.

Since the accident took place in the premises of the BMICH, Samitha has filed a law suit against the BMICH for negligence of the safety of persons in the BMICH premises. Among other things, it will be a landmark case since it raises several issues including the safety of persons in public places. It has been a common sight at construction sites and even places where events are organised, the organisers apparently pay little attention to safety standards or take precautionary measures in order to make a risk-free environment.

Except for medium and large construction firms, others seem to pay scant regard for safety standards specially to ensure safety working environment. On some instances, though there is legislation to safeguard the rights of the workers and particularly the disabled persons, the regulations have by and large been confined to statutes.

Accessibility issue

Surath Paura (Wall of hands), in addition to its avowed objective of helping out spinal injured patients in Sri Lanka will also take up the issue of accessibility to disabled persons at places of work, in using transport and even in hospitals and their accessibility to quality health-care facilities. Accessibility to public spaces such as cinemas, theatre, schools, shopping malls and in universities is still either limited or inaccessible.

Samitha points out that though there are regulations in construction of building to make them accessible to disabled persons, they have not been implemented. It is high time for the authorities to make these regulations mandatory so that they become standard criteria for the construction industry.

The important factor is that the issue of accessibility is not confined to accessibility to buildings. For instance, transport for disabled person is another area where measures have to be implemented enabling a mode of public transport including mass transits such as railway and buses accessible to disabled persons.

Environment at places of work whether it is factory, office or hospital should also be upgraded to meet the specific needs of the disabled persons. Such measure will enable them to lead productive lives.

Sri Lankan situation

Sri Lankan situation with regard to accessibility for persons with disabilities is, perhaps, worse compared with other countries in the region. Public transport is almost inaccessible. Even in the railway, horizontal and vertical accessibility is either very little or minimal. It is virtually a herculean task for a person with disabilities to get onto a bus though there is a seat reserved for them.

It is noteworthy to state that vertical and horizontal access to wheelchair users particularly in buses is absent. Technological improvements such as teller machines which cater to persons with disabilities should be introduced, at least, at key locations such as in the metropolis Colombo and leading shopping malls and hospitals.

Misconceptions

At any stage of our lives, one can be disabled either as a child, a person with a broken leg, and a person with physical or mental impairment. However, the term disabled persons generally tends to convey a picture of a person confined to a wheelchair who is a life-long dependent. The appropriate term is, perhaps, person with disabilities.

They are often not totally disabled. Some persons are born with either mental or physical impairment while there are others who become disabled following an accident or as a result of severe injuries such as disabled soldiers. Since the country has a community of disabled soldiers in their thousands, an attitudinal change is a must. What is important here is not to show them your sympathy for their plight but to respect the rights of the persons with diverse disabilities. It should be stated that like any other citizen, a person with disabilities is also entitled to lead a fruitful life in society with unfettered access to facilities.

Issues in employment

However, the status of persons with disabilities differs on economic and social status. For instances, disabled persons in developed countries enjoy more facilities in terms of improved accessibility, legal safeguards against any form of discrimination, parity of status at places of work than their counterparts in developing countries. In Sri Lanka attitudes towards persons with disabilities on the part of the public in general and prospective employers in particular should be changed. There are instances where the persons with disabilities have proved that they are productive employees than their co-workers.

Samitha Samanmali's case is an example. It is obvious that even in hospitals; infrastructure for person with disabilities to carry out their duties is absent. In most of the buildings, horizontal and vertical access in areas such as ramps, elevators, platforms, lifts, stairs, railings and hand railings, entrances, vestibules, doors, corridors and restrooms, etc. have to be upgraded creating an enabling environment particularly at places of work. Since persons are employed in diverse sectors which may be service sector like healthcare facilities, accessibility standards should be strictly implemented. Laws and regulations safeguarding the rights of the persons with disabilities at employment should be introduced minimizing the discrimination of persons with disabilities.

Pivotal role of Surath Paura

Surath Paura (Wall of hands) can also play a pivotal role in raising public awareness on the issues of the persons with disabilities and acting as a pressure group compelling the government to enforce existing laws and regulations including those governing the construction of building and also to enact laws aimed at improving accessibility standards in the country.

One of the issues facing the patients with spinal injuries is the absence of census carried out on them. Patients with spinal injuries can register with Surath Paura, although the organisation has not yet been established as a proper legal entity. Since patients with spinal injuries have specific requirements, Foundation such as Surath Paura is a necessity of the hour.