Title - A space for the visually challenged

How ‘friendly’ is the Thiruvananthapuram Central railway station to the differently abled?On November 1 a group of volunteers, led by Tiffany Maria Brar, a figure associated with the ‘Jyothirgamaya’ mobile school for the visually challenged, will encourage the staff at the railway station to ask themselves this question.This and other activities are being organised in the city on November 1 and 2 by Chakshumathi, a city-based charitable trust which focuses on developing and propagating assistive technology for the visually challenged. In association with the Kanthari International Institute for Social Entrepreneurs, the trust is organising two separate sessions on November 1 and 2, seeking to spread awareness of the need to set up systems that will assist the differently abled.“Accessibility here [at the railway station] is zero, and through this exercise, the Railways staff will be prompted to conduct surveys themselves,” Ram Kamal, managing trustee of Chakshumathi, told The Hindu .

A complete revamp of the Railways system in India was a pipe-dream, but metro rail systems had taken care to design simple solutions that make mobility for the physically challenged much simpler, he said.

On November 2, a day-long exhibition, titled, ‘Transform Trivandrum’ will be held with the support of various Non-Governmental Organisations based in the district on the Kanthari campus at Vellayani.

The exhibition seeks to inspire people to take up such activities and weave it into their daily life, along with work and familial commitments. Organisers will also invite solutions and suggestions from visitors at the end of the day.

Visitors can register by contacting 95673 76210 or by visiting the Facebook page, Transform Trivandrum.