New way to insure the visually impaired's safety on the road!

For the large number of visually impaired people in Delhi, travelling by auto-rickshaws is all set to become safer as plans have been drawn up to put metal plates bearing the registration numbers of the vehicles in both Braille and embossed form on the sides.

"The plates, which would cost around Rs. 25 each, have been approved by Transport Minister Haroon Yusuf and would make it easier for the blind passengers to know the registration number of the auto. This is important as it enables the passengers to lodge a complaint with the authorities if the driver misbehaves or refuse to carry them and it also helps them inform their relatives or friends about their movement so that they may know the vehicle number and pick them from a designated spot," according to the convenor of Samarthya, Sanjeev Sachdeva.

Declaring that such plates had long been demanded by the visually impaired -- around 10,000 of whom take public transport each day to travel to and fro school, college, office or other places - Mr. Sachdeva said these small innocuous plates would help these people lead an independent life. Also, he said, it would make travel safer for them in Delhi.

Stating that both the All India Confederation of the Blind and the National Federation of the Blind are ready to provide these plates measuring five inch by five inch at cost price, Mr. Sachdeva said this move would also send out a clear message that Delhi -- which recently witnessed the inauguration of the first barrier-free bus shelter -- really cares for its disabled.

Anjali Aggarwal of Samarthya said that besides making the plates in colour contrast for the benefit of those with low vision, efforts are also on to get audiometers -- which cost about Rs. 150 each -- installed in all the meters. "Just as you now have audio thermometers, calculators and watches, small modifications can be made which would allow audiometers to be installed in the electronic fare meters so that the visually impaired get to hear both the distance travelled and the fare to be paid by them. This will also save them from being cheated by TSR drivers," she said.