Kerala HC judge calls for obstacle-free spaces for visually impaired

Justice Devan Ramachandran called for barrier-free public spaces during White Cane Day celebrations. His remarks stressed societal change alongside expanded skills, technology and employment support.

In Short

• Justice Ramachandran joined a blindfolded white cane walk before the event
• He urged bus drivers to experience challenges confronting visually impaired pedestrians
• Project Surya has reached over 2,000 people through training programmes

People with visual impairment do not need sympathy but a society that respects their independence and stops creating obstacles in their lives, Kerala High Court judge Justice Devan Ramachandran said, according to news agency Press Trust of India.

He also criticised the misuse of footpaths and tactile paths meant for visually impaired pedestrians, saying inclusive public spaces must be created instead of expecting people with different abilities to adapt to systems designed for the majority.

Justice Ramachandran was inaugurating the White Cane Day celebrations organised by the Rotary Club of Cochin Global at Infopark in Kakkanad on Sunday.

Referring to vehicles continuing to occupy walkways despite High Court interventions to restore pedestrian facilities, he said, "Those who claim to have sight are blind. They don't see the footpaths, pedestrian paths or pedestrian crossings."

"A city where you can't walk is not a city at all," he said.

Justice Ramachandran also recalled participating in a blindfolded white cane walk before the function. He said those three or four minutes were among the most difficult moments of his life.

He suggested that motorists, particularly bus drivers, should take part in similar exercises to understand the challenges faced by visually impaired pedestrians.

"We make them dependent and then take credit for making them independent. It is us who have to change," PTI quoted him as saying.

The event also highlighted Project Surya, an initiative of the Rotary Club of Cochin Global that provides visually impaired people with free training in computers, assistive technology, mobility, communication and life skills.

Project Surya founding trustee Rotarian Noby E A said the initiative had reached more than 2,000 visually impaired people through 20 foundation course batches, 45 online batches and awareness workshops. Nearly 80 per cent of its former students are employed in government offices, private companies, IT parks and non-governmental organisations, he said.

According to a statement from the organisers, the programme began in 2008 with seven students at Infopark's Vismaya Building on the initiative of Rotarian George Mathew. It was developed with support from the Society for Rehabilitation of Visually Challenged, Infopark and Enable India, Bengaluru.

The programme was renamed Project Surya in 2015 and expanded to 15 students per batch in 2017. Eligible candidates also receive boarding, travel assistance and learning materials.

Rotary Club of Cochin Global president Dr John T John said the club planned to expand digital skills training, introduce newer assistive technologies, strengthen partnerships with employers and extend its outreach to rural and semi-urban areas.

The event underlined the need to remove barriers in public spaces while expanding training, technology and employment support for visually impaired people.

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