Major Durga Puja pandals inaccessible in Kolkata, says study

An NGO based in Kolkata has said that more than 70% big banner Durga Puja pandals in the city are not accessible for people with disabilities.

The NGO found that the pandal managements failed to provide adequate equipment and accessibility for the disabled. This is against the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (RPWD) Act passed in 2016.

Basic arrangements like wheelchair and ramp inside the tents are missing. Most of the pandals only have stairs to enter the venue.

The observations by the NGO also state that there is a lack of basic sensitivity and understanding about accessibility among the big pujas in Kolkata.

This is strange considering the campaigns by the central government for promoting accessible India.