Just Wanted to Say Thank You! I have reached home (San Diego) after a long and interesting journey. Many people deserve my very special thanks for making the last 4 months in Nepal productive! Pallav Pant of disABILITY Media Foundation proved to be a dynamic partner in moving the agenda on disability forward through tangible oriented results. Pallav jee and Ramesh Pandey of Hardik Hotel in Bag Bazaar worked very sincerely and tirelessly by managing the complicated logistics and politics related to a ½ day workshop on “Policies Regarding Disabled and Elderly Access and Accommodation in Public Places and Private Venues within Nepal’s Laws” on December 2, 2014. This workshop, sponsored by the Embassy of the United States of America in Kathmandu, on a very tight budget proved that tangible results can be achieved when people pursue their vision with passion and commitment. Ramesh Pandey of Hardik Hotel was undertaking some construction work on his hotel premises when I first met him. Many in the disabled community had perceived the conference room as disabled friendly because a ramp leading to the room had been constructed. During our meetings, discussions on perceptions regarding disability and disabled access become recurring themes. When Ramesh jee talked about his plan to construct a new toilet on the premises, he was posed the question “Would he be interested in making that toilet facility disabled accessible at a cost that did not exceed his budget?” His answer, “yes”, came as a total surprise to me. I had by now figured that claims of complying disabled accessible toilets were really a myth. The claim seemed based on a lack of full understanding of all the requirements that are involved in building facilities that are disabled friendly. From there, the commitment to widen the existing ramp to make it more compliant was made, the commitment to make a new compliant disabled ramp on another location on site and to provide disabled complying parking spaces on his premises were made. I want to thank Ramesh Pandey jee for his bold visionary decision, follow through on his commitment and for setting an example for the nation regarding how tangible changes can be achieved in the area of disability once commitments are made. All costs of this project were fully borne by Hardik Hotel. Because of his commitment, I was delighted to provide the necessary free technical assistance. This exchange of technical expertise was also done to show how experiences gained by NRNs’ can be shared in Nepal when there are willing partners ready to accept the expertise. Thank to you, Ramesh Pandey jee! There is now a disabled complying multi-use toilet facility and a complying ramp on that site. Soon, there will also be disabled complying facilities for the disabled on site. I trust that you will also come through on your other indication that you are going to further improve his hotel so that it becomes even more disabled friendly. I want to thank the US Embassy and staff. Three years ago, Robert Domaingue and Dhurba Shah helped launch the first series of talks on disabled accessibility at the US Embassy. The topic dealt with accessible sidewalks for Kathmandu. Today, Susan Parker-Burns, Marissa Polnerow and Dhruba Shah have continued to provide the opportunities to discuss the important issue of disability and disabled access credibly in Nepal. I want to thank them all for their support and their faith. The half-day workshop on ““Policies Regarding Disabled and Elderly Access and Accommodation in Public Places and Private Venues within Nepal’s Laws”, sponsored by The Embassy of the United States of American in partnership with disABILITY Media Foundation, resulted in some very important and tangible outcomes. Kathmandu now has more officials and abled people aware of disability issues. Of course there is now a complying sample disabled accessible bathroom in a private yet public setting. Comments heard from people with disabilities range from “it is easy for us to use”, “ will you allow us to use the facility if we are in the neighborhood?”, “ramps are easy to navigate without assistance”, etc. These comments make the effort even more worth the effort. The workshop also produced some interesting results. As a result of his workshop, a voluntary group of 9 people have formed a committee to move the agenda of the disabled forward by promising to execute the voluntary commitments made by the participants at the workshop. They will try to achieve some of these voluntary commitments within the next 6 months. All those participants at the workshop and volunteers also deserve my thanks and I look forward to getting some tangible results based on their commitments. Thanks also goes to Pankaj Pradhananga jee of Four Seasons Travel for his commitment to Disabled Tourism and access issues. He managed to arrange a good session on disability as relates to the tourism industry. I am hopeful that the tourism industry and hoteliers will look into this so it becomes a win-win situation for everyone. The country can reap unimagined benefit from disabled tourists that will come and pay top dollars to enjoy the unlimited natural and man-made bounties of tourist destination Nepal! Only, the will to make access a priority becomes a commitment. It would be great injustice if I do not thank my family including my wife, Hema Baidya, and sons Atish Ram Baidya and Atool Ram Baidya for allowing me to be away from home and in Nepal for these long durations of time over the past three years. I as well as my wife, Hema, are happy that some tangible results were achieved and wish for more tangible changes so the disabled community can find access in government (public) building facilities or in private buildings that are public venues.
Posted on: Fri, 16 Jan 2015 02:46:52 +0000
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