Recommends ways to make complex more accessible
DIMAPUR, NOVEMBER 8 (MExN): The Nagaland State Commission for Persons with Disabilities led by Disability Commissioner, Diethono Nakhro, along with representatives from the Departments of Home and Works & Housing, inspected the Nagaland Civil Secretariat Complex to verify whether accessibility facilities were being provided as per the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (RPwD) Act 2016, and standards as prescribed by the Harmonised Guidelines and Standards for Universal Accessibility in India 2021.
Following the inspection, SCPD Diethono Nakhro made recommendations to make the Nagaland Civil Secretariat Complex accessible and barrier free for all citizens. The State respondents have been given 3 months to complete the directions and submit an Action Taken Report to the Court.
The SCPD recommend that reserved parking slots in the South Block Parking area must be widened to give more room to users. Similar parking slots should be reserved in the North Block and VIP entrance parking areas, it was added.
Further, it was advised that hand railings be provided in the North Block ramp and in all the ramps inside and outside the building. All the existing ramps should be audited to ensure they meet accessibility standards, which includes checking for proper gradient, surface continuity, width, etc.
Roof covering/canopy should be provided over the ramps in both South and North Blocks where the distance from the parking areas to the Secretariat building entrance is significant.
The obstacles in the outdoor ramp leading up from the parking area in the South Block (exposed water pipes, drainages) should be removed and repair/maintenance work carried out throughout the length of the ramp.
Ramp or lift facility should be provided for access into the main building from Gate No. 2 (VIP entrance).
With regard to lifts, it was recommended that the second lift in the North Block, already installed, should be made operational immediately.
Meanwhile, it was observed that the lift currently in use in the South Block is not kept switched on at all office hours compelling users to seek out the electricians to switch it on when the need arises. This is manifestly not an efficient system and soundly defeats the purpose of installing the lift facility.
Should there exist a need to control the usage of the facility, lift operators should be appointed and the lift kept fully operational during all office hours, it was added. The SCPD also said that service/maintenance crew should be made available for maintenance of the lifts and to ensure that repairs, should the need arise, take place with a much quicker turnaround.
Other recommendations included removal of barriers, availability of accessible/priority toilet facilities, ramps, removal of non-essential décor and other obstructions, signages and wayfinding maps, training/workshops to sensitise officers and staff, and constitution of a Secretariat Accessibility Committee.
