``People should realise the problems of the disabled and the fact that they have as much right to use banks, post offices and markets as any other able-bodied member of society,'' says Nirmal Malhotra, coordinator of Awareness Raising and Publicity with the Spastics Society of Northern India (SSNI).

On completing its two decades of existence in 1998, SSNI decided to launch a concerted effort to make the built environment more disabled-friendly. Thus started the process of listing individuals and organisations that could be approached for making ramps. ``Instead of approaching individuals or organisations, we went to decision makers such as the chairman, Delhi Development Authority; governor, Reserve Bank of India, and theDelhi chief minister to tackle the inaccessibility of public buildings at the policy level,'' says Malhotra.

The approach was made through letters, visits, phone calls, fax messages, etc. Several months went by and nothing concrete appeared to be forthcoming, recalls Malhotra.

Then in March this year, the first policy response came in the form of a directive from RBI to banks to make ramps wherever possible. This was followed by a call from R K Sareen, a personnel manager with the Punjab & Sind Bank seeking technical help from SSNI for making their first ramp.

``Our therapists provided them with details about the ideal ramp width, gradation and manner of alighting and climbing. In coordination with the bank's contractor and carpenters, the first ramp in their head office was complete in July,'' recalls Malhotra. The bank realised the importance of ramps after being approached by a few NGOs working with the physically challenged. ``Disabled persons could not reach our extension counter and this hamperedtheir interaction with our staff. A few handicapped people apprised us of their problem. Therefore, we decided to build ramps in five branches in New Delhi, beginning with our headquarters,'' says Sareen.

Later, they added ramps to other branches in Punjabi Bagh, Ashok Vihar, Hari Nagar and in the commercial complex behind Satyam cinema.

SSNI did not stop with banks. They then approached the Union communications secretary to highlight the problems the disabled faced all across the country because of inaccessible post offices. ``R V S Prasad responded to this very positively by directing post offices in more than 2,000 post offices spread over 19 states to build ramps, wherever possible,'' says Malhotra.

The implementation has been slow, though. ``The tardy nature of government functioning and the bureaucracy have delayed it. But we are monitoring the progress continuously and the project should get implemented by 2000,'' says Malhotra.

Another Delhi bank which is alive to the problems faced by thedisabled is the Oriental Bank of Commerce (OBC). ``We have provided them with technical inputs to develop ramps in 17 of their branches in the Capital,'' says Malhotra. SSNI has also requested restaurant chains and representatives of market associations to make their members aware of the need for greater accessibility. ``We have written to McDonald's, Nirula's and some other fast food outlets. We also approached some market organisations.'' She adds, ``The cost of a ramp is nominal. What is lacking is sensitivity to the needs of the disabled,'' concludes Malhotra.

THE RIGHT WAY TO USE A RAMP