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

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

Mumbai – First all-women court set up under session judge Vrushali Joshi #Vaw #Justice #goodnews

March 15, 2013, IE

Acting swiftly on a circular by the Bombay High Court issued on International Women’s Day last week, the first all-women court in the city has been set up at the Kala Ghoda sessions court.

It will exclusively deal with crimes against women, and is a move to ensure women victims of sexual offences, who feel embarrassed or intimidated in court particularly because of presence of males, to depose in a relatively stress-free atmosphere considering that the judicial officers and staff will all be women.

“The earlier staff have been transferred to another court, and women staff from other courts have been assigned jobs here,” confirmed chief public prosecutor Kalpana Chavan.

To Mark International Women’s Day on March 8, Chief Justice of the Bombay High Court Mohit Shah had issued the circular through the HC registrar general stating, “Directions have been issued to assign cases involving sexual assault against women exclusively to courts presided over by women judicial officers. It would be desirable that all staff members, that is bench clerks, stenographers, interpreter, typists, peons and police constables are women.”

Sessions Judge Vrushali Joshi, will be relieved of other cases soon and will only deal with matters pertaining to women, confirmed Chavan.

In its circular, the HC stated dealing with cases involving sexual assault on women needs great sensitivity. “In these cases, women are victims of crime and there is a need to enable them to give their evidence in a stress-free atmosphere and without fear or embarrassment,” the circular reads Chavan said special measures will be taken to ensure that children and women feel secure in the court atmosphere and do not hesitate when they depose. “In many cases, looking at male lawyers and court staff, the victim and witnesses do tend to feel intimidated. This arrangement would prove helpful,” she said.

So far, only the six-month-old murder case of corporate lawyer Pallavi Purkayastha (25) has been assigned to the court. Purkayastha, daughter of an IAS-officer-couple, was murdered at her Wadala flat allegedly by 22-year-old security guard Sajjad Ahmad Mughal alias Sajjad Pathan. While the prosecution had attempted to introduce attempted rape in the draft charges, the court had rejected the section. Pathan has been booked for murder and house- trespass. These sections, if proved, could attract even the death penalty.

What it means for victims

Move to ensure women victims of sexual offences, who feel embarrassed or intimidated in court particularly because of presence of males, to depose in a stress-free atmosphere considering that the judicial officers and staff will all be women

HC said dealing with cases involving sexual assault on women needs sensitivity. “In these cases, women are victims of crime and there is a need to enable them to give their evidence in a stress-free atmosphere, without fear or embarrassment,” the circular reads