ATTN – Mumbai Rising For Disability Access @May24th #Mustshare

Is it possible to lock out millions of people in a city from accessing the most basic facilities? Would the constitution and the law of the nation allow it?

You don’t have to go far to find out because right here in the city of Mumbai millions of people undergo such blatant discrimination. For example if you are in a wheelchair, you’ll find over 90% of the city in lock-down, in a curfew for you. It’s not much different if you are a senior citizen, or a mother who likes to carry your baby in a pram, or are suffering from a temporary disability due to an accident.

 

Taking care of this is simple and inexpensive. Ramps don’t cost much. Stair  lifts, elevators and adjusted toilets are a one time investment that opens up establishments to nearly 15% extra consumer base. The law requires that you take these most basic steps. (Persons With Disabilities Act Chapter 3).

 

Yet, go anywhere in the city and you’ll find that these simple things have not been taken care of. The result – it becomes hazardous and dangerous to the lives of people with special needs who do try to use these establishments.

 

Hundreds of Mumbaikars, including people with disabilities and some of Mumbai’s most prominent citizens – writers, artists, filmmakers and activists – are coming together on the 24^th of May, to protest against this denial of one of the most fundamental of rights, the right to live and move freely about their city, to people with disabilities.

 

In attendance will be over 100 people in wheelchairs, BMC and govt. officials, prominent Mumbai citizens, artists, activists, filmmakers, actors etc. People who have confirmed their attendance include Dia Mirza, Kalki Kochelin, Nagesh Kukunoor, Homi Adjania, Anil Dharker, Shobha De and Bachi Karkaria among many others.

 

The protest that will also launch a 2-year-long campaign to make Mumbai accessible called ‘MUMBAI RISING FOR DISABILITY ACCESS – WE ARE PEOPLE TOO” is organized by the ADAPT Rights Group, the activist wing of the Spastics Society of India (now called ADAPT).

 

Venue: Kala Ghoda

Time: 5:30 PM, 24th May 2013.

 

 

RSVP: Satyen K. Bordoloi 9967970320, satyens@gmail.com

  Varsha Hooja 9324087570, varsha.adapt@gmail.com

 

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• PRESS RELEASE- WESTSIDE’s Anti-disability, Anti-wheelchair Policy Continues (kractivist.wordpress.com)

Usha Uthup , Legendary Rockstar took the Mumbai #TimesLitCarn by Storm !!

 

Dec9, 2012, Mumbai

 

 It was a longgg wait , Waiting for 45 minutes outside the door of the hall, of people screaming, the time headlines will be ‘ Usha Uthup Live, and the audience dead”, everyone laughing,  peopel tired of waiting. Then doing some time pass withs ecurity guards, to open teh door , and atleats allow some ac hawa outside ;-). As teh door opened a little bit, I shouted –”someone fainted , here opene the door ,  this hulchal going on as  Usha Uthup  did her technical sound check  in side the hall. The serpentine queue just  grew by every second, jostling each other and asking volunteers how much more time ? how much more time ?.

Bachi Karkaria came and security guard said, Madam, sorry you cant go “. arey she is the event organiser, and she very sweetly said, they dont know me , and she went in, as we put a tsamp of authority, that she should eb allowed as she is event organizer, hahahahaha

 Bachi Karkaria came out, we all screamed how much more time ,   ten minutes  she said and we all started chanting the  ten minutes , our patience running out…. bhaag hi gayi…… and ….

Finally, door opened I ran to take the best place right in front, as I had to take a few videos and see and hear her clear as crystal.

The legendary  Rock star can just touch heart of eight year old and an eighty year old as well. The teenagers swinging to her tunes, whistling, at her sense of humor.No oen just no One can perform om stage as HER , a live wire ,

Usha Uthup remembering, R D Burman she said, she was potted by by him in 1969 at gazebo and at that time she did not know , who R D Burman, later they became great friends. R D Burman wrote a song her exclusively,buts sadly she could nto sing the song, for various reasons, but was penned for her.

The song was.. ‘ Duniya main logon ko…………….. monica oh my darling…. in the begining of song there is yoddleling.. two types. Usha she  called out to me from stage to yoodle with her, that was a golden moment freezed the audience were  divdied into right and left and she gave us two types of yoddling for her songs..

As  I  I am  a big mouth, with a karari avaaz, needless to say I  was and still am  loudest in my group and Usha Uthup said from stage. Hey you in red, come up… and yoddle , and  I was like what ? who me ?/ yes you ??? and there iI went jumping up da stage ;-). Another girl from other side was called too .

One was low paparaapapa/…..one was high…parrappara…. cam  ein my lap, and I think i did do justice for my group, and got the shabashi FROM  her, when she said in her signature style ‘ super amma “, and then started all masti magic of usha Uthup.

 The Gregarious performer Usha Uthup  rcoked the mehboob studios  with her powerful singing .She also shared many anecdotes, saying, “I’m probably the only one here today who has recorded songs at Mehboob Studios.”

 Did you know that Usha Uthup wears Sports shoes with kanjeevaram embroidery ?

She  REVEALED THAT  she wears sports shoes with embroidered kanjeevaram motifs on them! She said she has cut borders from some of her saris and stuck them on her shoes so that they all add to her appearance!, ‘ ISNT THAT KOOL” ahaan .. sure it is 😉

Regarding her jewellery she shouted’ . ‘ How do you like my gold jewellery” we all shouted love it, and she said , I have given it to Bappi Lahiri and just have gold inside, my heart 😉

 Rearading her trademark  S aree,  she shared that many people earlier thought that it was my  publicity stunt a marketing strategy, and Sshe said  , ‘ I  was born in a middle class family where all women wore sarees, clap clap went the sudience, and hey do you see how i I show my pallu ??? , she said getting pallu ahead in style , which covered her each inch of body  and she said , ‘ Obviously , I dont want cameraman to catch my belly  tyres…. hahahahahah went on the crowd .

The night went on with jokes, music and dance , unforgettable and golden moment etched with a tinge of .. kaash it never ended

We all danced to darling………………….. and bom bombay bombay meri hai !!!

Just wished night would never end,

and  Usha Uthup would not stop singing

and

I would not stop dancing…………

Below are some videos