Challenges Due to Lack of Disability-Friendly Infrastructure
Although there is a legal provision to create disability-friendly infrastructure for public access, people with disabilities complain that most government offices in the district are not disability-friendly, causing difficulties in accessing services.
According to the Act Relating to Rights of Persons with Disabilities, 2074 (2017), persons with disabilities are entitled to easily access services and facilities such as educational institutions, housing, workplaces, buildings, roads, transportation, and other services.
However, people with disabilities have complained that they face difficulties in accessing services because the structure of the District Administration Office, where the highest number of service users are present, is not disability-friendly.
Assistant Chief District Officer Rupesh Bishwakarma mentioned that people with disabilities face hardships due to the physical structure of the district administration office not being disability-friendly. He also stated that the government structures built and under construction in the district have not yet been constructed based on disability-friendly standards, which continues to cause problems for service users with disabilities.
Ramesh Kumar Rai, 31, from Sotang Municipality-1, who came to the District Administration Office for services, complained that it is very difficult to receive services inside the office. He stated, “Persons with disabilities must always bring an assistant when coming to a government office for official work or other tasks. Reaching the office is somewhat manageable, but the office chief is on the upper floor. It is very difficult to meet them.” Rai stated this while at the office premises.
The number of persons with disabilities in the district is 2,006. However, they face difficulties in accessing public services, as stated by Gehendra Rai from Mapya Dudhkoshi Rural Municipality. Kumari Shrestha from Salleri Nayabazar also mentioned that it is problematic to go to government offices for services because the officials are located on the upper floors and the offices lack disability-friendly infrastructure.
The Sustainable Development Goals aim to promote and empower the social, economic, and political inclusion of all individuals, regardless of age, gender, disability, race, ethnicity, or any other status, by 2030.
In the district, the offices of most local government chiefs, Chief District Officer, District Judge, Chief of the Education Development and Coordination Unit, District Coordination Committee, as well as the chief of government offices like Telecom and Electricity, are located on the upper floors.
According to Maiti Shobha Rai, the President of the District Disability Association of Solukhumbu, it is not easy for service users with disabilities to access the office heads.
Article 42 of the Constitution of Nepal 2072 defines and provisions the right to social justice. Subarticle 3 of the same article ensures that citizens with disabilities shall have the right to live with dignity and honour, with the identity of their diversity, and have equal access to public services and facilities.
Anju Karki
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