Excelsior Correspondent
Srinagar, June 9: The High Court has directed that ‘sensitization programme’ and ‘Internal Audit Training’ for differently abled persons be notified and posted on Government website. It also directed for disability audit of buildings and facilities in Jammu and Kashmir.
Hearing the PIL on providing facilities to differently abled persons in the State, the division Bench of Chief Justice Gita Mittal and Justice Rashid Ali Dar perusal of documents on “Access to All Sensitization Programme” and “Internal Audit Training” for disabled persons in the State directed the State Government to notify the same and place it on website also.
In this connection, court directed the Nipaman Foundation, the author of documents namely “Access to All Sensitization Programme” and “Internal Audit Training” module be made available in soft format to the Registrar General of the Court, the Secretary Social Welfare Department and the Principal Secretary to Government, R&B Department.
Court also directed for making available these documents to the Secretary, Department of Social Welfare, J&K so that the same are made available for compliance to all authorities responsible for sanctioning building plans; undertaking developmental activities and undertaking constructions in the State of J&K, including all Municipal Corporations, all Development Authorities including the Gulmarg Development Authority, the Pahalgam Development Authority, the Sonamarg Development Authority, Universities, Colleges, Hospitals, Schools, Transport Department, Departments of Horticulture and Floriculture, Police, Jails etc.
Court said the Social Welfare Department has also placed before the court the proposed schedule for training programmes which has been finalized in collaboration with Nipman Foundation.
Court accepted the said programe by SWD and directed it to ensure that the trainings are undertaken as has been placed in the schedule before be facilitated.
Court further directed the Secretary, Department of Social Welfare as well as the Registrar General of the Court to ensure that both these programmes the “Access to All – Sensitization Programme” and the “Internal Audit Training – as per Harmonised Guidelines, 2016” module are circulated to all Judges, concerned persons, authorities and institutions so that they are complied with.
Disability Commissioner (Nodal Officer) and Nipun Malhotra, CEO and Co-Founder of Nipman Foundation have been directed to examine this aspect and place before this Court a road map so that trainings and sensitization of every public official on issues relating to disability can be undertaken.
Disability Commissioner has been directed that in consultation with heads of all departments and authorities, cause disability audits to be undertaken of every building, facilities including access, open areas as parks, gardens, pavements, roads, transportation modes etc.
“The Registrar General of this Court shall cause to be undertaken a similar exercise in respect of all courts in the State. The Registrar General of the J&K High Court shall ensure that not only Judges but also lawyers, legal aid lawyers, para legal volunteers and court staff are imparted training so that sensitization on these issues reaches farthest in the State”, read the order.
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