Kannur to be first barrier-free district

KANNUR: Kannur  is  set to become the first barrier-free district in the country. The  concept aims at converting  public places and buildings  as disabled-friendly by establishing facilities for them. Out of the 1,842 public institutions in Kannur, 1,288 have been already converted to barrier-free environment and the rest 554 will be changed  before the official declaration of barrier-free district on Independence Day.

This is the first time in India that an entire district is becoming  barrier-free. After the declaration, the district administration will also extend the project to the private sector. As part of creating a barrier-free environment, each government office will be equipped with a ramp for movement using wheelchair, a steel railing, grooved tile surface for visually challenged and display boards in Braille script.

The project started in October 2015 is implemented  by PWD department (in PWD buildings), LSGD engineering wing (in local bodies) and district Nirmithi Kendra (in other institutions). The project is funded by the social justice department. Kannur District Collector P. Bala Kiran said that the project was  getting positive response from the public.

“Creating a barrier-free environment for physically challenged people is part of Persons with Disability (PWD) Act,  but nowhere the rule is strictly implemented.  Initially,  when we introduced the idea, many people due to lack of awareness asked about the need of such facilities. However, we could convince them.  In developed countries, barrier-free environment is mandatory,” he said. “Actually, we would have completed the project by April, but due to the lack of grooved tiles for visually challenged, we had to specially order them from Mangalore and Kochi caused  the  delay,” he added.