The accessible toilets created for the differently- abled in the city has been out of bounds, for the differently abled population though public money is spent to create these basic amenities.
The differently - abled in many parts of the city are put to hardship as the the toilets which boast of differently-abled friendly is not in good shape and not accessible to the differently abled.
A case in point in the accessible toilet in the Ukkadam bus stand which is out of use for the past few months. Ramps and side bars were created in this toilet and made accessible toilet but the toilets still remain out of bounds for the differently abled due to lack of maintenance.
“Though the city corporation has constructed accessible toilets for the differently abled in the various parts of the city, most of them are out of bounds for the disabled due to lack of maintenance. The maintainance of over 370 public toilets run by the corporation is vested with a private agency, which include the accessible toilets. Under Swacch Bharat mission, these toilets were renovated recently. Water facility extended and new toilet kits were procured but despite all this the differently-abled could not use this faciltiy and it is locked away.
“The sad fact remains the accessible toilets, constructed for differently abed remain unusable an inaccessible to this day in Ukkdam bus stand and one central zone is also in the same conditon.
"The Corporation should also provide wheel chairs for the different - abled as we do not travel by wheel chair to all the locations in the city” said a differently abled person.
While overcharging of lessees is menace with most of the leased out paid toilets, for the accessible toilets not in use is is another menace, adding woe to the city’s differently abled population.
The corporation officials should be made accountable for the poor state of affairs as the city’s differently abled population is denied even basic amenities. Prompt action should be initiated by the officials to make the accessible toilets functional again. say the city's affected disabled population.