D.Shyam Sunder 06:19 PM, July 14th, 2010

I am a physically disabled citzen who would like to get a "hot line" connection to someone in the Governement who will be able to help sort out immediate problems that we disabled face, every day in our routine life. To name a few of the problems that we need immediate and corrective action: 1. Ear marking of Handicapped Parking space on various important roads and strictly ensuring compliance. There are some places earmarked on Commercial Street, Brigade Rd, M.G.rD., ETC,but these are occupied by non handicapped drivers. I am a holder of a Invalid Carriage Drivers licence and have the Handicapped driver stickers on my windscreen and rear glass, but more often than not I am shooed away by the traffic police who have always acted rude and arrogant when I request for my legitimate space. IF I HAD AN IMPORTANT PERSON WHOM I COULD PHONE AND GET RELIEF , AT THAT MOMENT, I wouldnt have to run from pillar to post to get redressal of my woes. 2. All the RTO offices, especially the Indira Nagar and K.R.Puram RTO Offices have their offices on the 2nd and third floors with NO LIFTS. I had to climb 73 steps to the 3rd floor of RTO K.R.Puram office, to give in my application for my Driving licence CARD. Though the ARTO was kind enough to help a bit, the other clerks were totally unmindful of the fact that I was disabled. Fees had to be paid on the 2nd floor, Xerox copies had to be got from the ground floor and I had to stand for hours in queues. I was asked to put my papers in a brown covering paper, which was again available in the ground floor. There was NO ONE to ease this proceedural agony and my self respect prevented me from shedding tears. The pain in legs will have to be suffered for the next two days. I do not wish to comment on the lack of common courtesy of the public present there - we are an insensitive people , but I am sure there will be some avenue of help I can turn to at such desperate times. THIS IS WHERE I (OR ANY OTHER DISABLED PERSON) NEED AN IMPORTANT PERSON IN THE GOVERNMENT, TO PHONE TO AND GET RELIEF . I have many very important other issues to discuss and will do so , as this discussion builds up, but I hope to get some relevant and practical advice or suggestions about whom I can approach in situations like these. WE NEED HELP AT THAT MOMENT AND NOT LATER ! D.SHYAM SUNDER

Junaid A Tagala 09:59 PM, August 15th, 2010

can you plzzz contact me here junaid.t@iijnm.org

Tejaswini Pagadala 10:39 PM, August 15th, 2010

Mr.Shyam Sunder - I'm a trainee journalist from the India Institute of Journalism and New media and I'm interested to do a story on this. Please reply. If there's an email ID you could give me to contact you, I would be grateful to you.
you can mail me your number to - tejaswini.p@iijnm.org
thank you :)