On the occasion of World Disability Day, the famous
Marina beach in Chennai has been made accessible for visitors
with disabilities.
This year too, the Greater Chennai Corporation and
Greater Chennai Police have transformed the beach into a
place everyone can enjoy, even if its just for two days.
Children and adults with disabilities, people with mobility issues, the
elderly and pregnant women, who find the area inaccessible can go thanks to
eco-friendly pathways have been laid across the beach.
The pathways are for two days and many people have flocked here to enjoy the
experience of the fresh air and sand. There are ramps that take you up into
the water so you can feel the waves.
“To be able to visit the beach is a memorable experience. But it would be
even better if this was possible all the year around and not just on two
days.” Says Ummull Khair, works in a law firm
Students of the Vidya Sagar School, which has led the
initiative have been visiting in batches
Our children are very happy but this happiness is momentarily as the ramps
are only there for two days in the whole year. We have been raising our
voice for permanent ramps and the authorities have not done anything about
that so far. This year we have been assured that 2019 will change the
situation and the beach will be made permanently accessible.
Kalpana Rao, Principal, Vidya Sagar School
We hope that the authorities will keep up their promise and make the beach
accessible permanently for people with disabilities. It just does not seem
fair that children with disabilities have to wait the whole year for these
two days when they can visit the beach.
Sathish Kumar, a bank employee shared his experience on
Facebook and wrote “We have no words to describe the happiness on all faces
who enjoyed today at #Marina #Beach which was made temporarily #Accessible.
This happiness would remain forever, once marina beach is being made
accessible permanently. Which we hope to happen early next year. We thank
very much to the Chennai Corporation, Police dept and NTT DATA volunteers who
were on the whole day with us.”
Source: https://newzhook.com/story/20716
