This showed they didn’t care about disability,” says Ms. Shroti, who has osteogenesis imperfecta, a bone disorder that has rendered her 100% disable. “Don’t let a disabled feel disabled, and you end up empowering them.”Incapacitated by pothole-ridden roads, steep ramps and uneven pathways, she is now making a fervent pitch for a disabled-friendly Bhopal Smart City. If there could be a ‘Swachh Bhopal’, why couldn’t we have an ‘Accessible Bhopal’, Ms. Shroti, recipient of a President’s Award in 2016, explained. For her, a Smart City must include accessible roads, washrooms and parking spots that are routinely audited. “I returned with the sombre feeling of being a dependant again,” said Ms. Shroti, 38.

Source: The Hindu September 29, 2019 18:57 UTC