After her stint with the BJD, Sulochana Das Wednesday took charge as the new State Commissioner for the Persons with Disabilities. The State Commission for Persons with Disabilities is a quasi-judicial body for safeguarding the rights of the differently-abled. In an interview to Orissa POST, Das speaks about her plans for the Commission. Excerpts:
What will be your priority areas as the commissioner for the quasi-judicial body?
The first thing that I would like to ensure is to know if the rights for the differently-abled as enshrined in different legislations are followed or not. There are laws and guidelines which bat for barrier-free facilities for the differently-abled in buses, bus stands and even in flights like facility of ramps and others. I want to ensure that such provisions become a reality.
Odisha is still struggling to make public buildings and transport services barrier-free under Accessible India Campaign and other laws. Your views?
I will see if there are any issues with the implementation levels anywhere. I just took the responsibility today. I will find out which departments are yet to work on the issue. I will write and coordinate with all the government departments as well as the private bodies to ensure the physical infrastructure like buildings and others are easily accessible to them and become barrier-free.
How do you plan to take the private bodies onboard for a hassle-free environment for the differently-abled?
I will also approach the private bodies on the issue of ‘Accessible Odisha’. Shopping malls, government as well as private buses, bus stands will be asked to ensure that their design and infrastructure support free movement of the differently-abled and are made barrier-free. Private industrial bodies will also be asked to use their Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Funds to facilitate in formulating a barrier-free environment.
Any plan to work on empowering rural masses?
I will work towards creating massive awareness campaigns to ensure that people living in different nooks and corners of the state get to know that the differently-abled have the full right to live a dignified life at par with others. Works will be undertaken to ensure that any discrimination and denial of their rights could not be seen even in rural areas. Correction of anomalies on disability certificates and giving them their due rights and empowering the rural masses with correct information are in the offing.
Your plans for redressing the grievances at your Commission?
I will ensure that our institution works as a hand-holding centre for the differently-abled whenever they have any grievance. Now the complaint filing with us is online and a toll-free number is also available so that more number of people from different parts of the state can approach us freely whenever feel aggrieved.