Chennai: Here is a refreshing story out of the Greater Chennai Corporation. The local body is considering building parks without barriers for the benefit of the differently-abled. Referred to as the ‘Inclusive Parks Programme’, the project will also see an inclusive play area being developed in parks so that special children too can benefit. However, removing all barriers that prevent free movement of the wheelchair bound or persons with other types of disabilities will be the main focus.
Although sources told DC that the idea itself is in a nascent stage, as only preliminary talks with differently-abled activists have taken place, officials observed that it was important to note that the idea germinated from the corporation set up and not the other way around.
“We will conduct an audit of possible locations. Altering existing infrastructure will throw up various problems and so we are considering the option of developing fresh parks with such features,” said an official.
The corporation will seek the help of Bengaluru-based NGO Kilikili for the project.
Kilikili has prior experience in that they helped the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike, which is the garden city’s local body, develop three inclusive parks.
Kilikili will also arrange for inclusive playing equipment like wheelchair merry-go-rounds, safe slides and swings, which are safe for the special children to play with.
Vaishnavi Jayakumar, co-founder of The Banyan, who will be working closely with Kilikili, told DC that the project will make it possible for special children to interact and play with other children.
“When was the last time we saw a special child play at a park just like a normal child? There has always been this tendency among us to exclude the differently-abled from the rest of the society in projects meant for them,” Vaishnavi said.
“Perhaps, this idea is less stigmatising in that context,” she added.
Corporation officials added that they will also be looking at Open Space Reserve (OSR) lands to create inclusive parks.
At present, the local body maintains 456 parks in the city. However, not one of them provides barrier free access for the differently-abled.
