Kerala: Disabled made to climb 4 floors

Kochi: The mini civil station at Aluva is disabled-unfriendly at a time when a drive is on to make all government buildings disabled-friendly. The unkindest cut is that it has a disabled lift.

Hundreds of elderly and physically handicapped persons, who come to the civil station for various needs, face serious problem as the only lift at the multi-storied building has not been functioning for nearly a year.

Shymon Joseph, 34, a physically-disabled candidate who arrived at the civil station to appear for the learner’s licence test on Friday, learnt some hard lessons. He reached there in a wheelchair at 9 am, but was asked to report at the regional transport office located on the fourth floor. 

“Shymon, who suffers  from paralysis of the lower part of the body, found to his shock that the lift was not functional. Finally, we intervened and along with some good Samaritans literally carried him on our shoulders to the RT office,” said Seby V. Bastin, local ward councillor. 

The ward councillor called for intervention of the district collector citing that despite bringing it to the notice of the officials concerned and submitting numerous petitions, the lift has not been repaired.

Shymon is seeking a licence to drive a two-wheeler fitted with extra wheels for him. He uses his wheelchair to reach the vehicle while driving.