Two of Shopian’s key public buildings—the District Hospital and the Mini Secretariat —continue to operate without ramps, making access difficult for people with disabilities, elderly visitors and patients despite being built at a combined cost of nearly Rs 59 crore.
The District Hospital Shopian, built by the Jammu and Kashmir Projects Construction Corporation (JKPCC) at a cost of around Rs 23 crore and handed over to the health department in 2019, lacks ramp access.
Similarly, the Mini Secretariat, which houses several government offices and was constructed at a cost of about Rs 36 crore, does not have a ramp.
Although both buildings are equipped with lifts, visitors either have to first climb a flight of stairs to reach them or face difficulties in case of power failure.
The absence of ramps forces people with disabilities to rely on attendants or bystanders to enter the buildings.
“Elderly citizens, pregnant women and patients with fractures or other movement-related ailments also face difficulty accessing essential services”, said Mohammad Iqbal, a resident.
The lack of barrier-free access is particularly significant at the district hospital, which receives hundreds of patients every day.
As a healthcare facility, it is expected to provide safe and convenient access to all, especially those seeking treatment for illnesses or injuries that restrict movement.
Residents said it was surprising that the two buildings, constructed in recent years, did not include one of the most basic accessibility features despite having lifts installed.
“The exclusion defeated the purpose of creating inclusive public infrastructure and urged the authorities to install ramps without delay.”, said the residents.
They said ramps would benefit not only persons with disabilities but also senior citizens, patients on stretchers and attendants accompanying the sick.
The Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016, mandates that public buildings be made accessible to persons with disabilities.
The Centre’s Accessible India Campaign also aims to improve barrier-free access in government buildings across the country.
Residents have urged the district administration and the concerned departments to address the issue, saying that the presence of lifts alone cannot ensure accessibility in case of emergencies.
