Every year, 30 percent of urban spaces should be restructured and made accessible for the differently abled and people wounded in action, deputy at the ministry of interior, Gholamreza Yavand Abbasi said.
“However, not much has been done this year to facilitate accessibility for the physically challenged in the city, he said, addressing the Committee of Urban Space Accessibility, in Shahrekord in Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari Province.
He added that in line with the goals set in the urban space accessibility plan, the activities carried out in the provinces are being monitored by the interior ministry to identify obstacles and to modify the plans according to the needs of each province, IRNA reported.
Insufficient funding is not the only obstruction; public willpower and serious endeavors by affiliated organizations are still critical for the plan’s success, Abbasi stressed.
Equal for All
Restructuring city spaces for accessibility and creating equal opportunity for all people alike is one of the yardsticks of development, Mohammad Mirzaei, head of the provincial Welfare Organization said.
The disabled, those wounded in action, the elderly, and pregnant women make up nearly ten percent of the population and are the groups addressed under the plan.
The official stated that during the past year in Shahrekord, studies have been conducted to identify public areas, including parks, banks, hospitals, mosques, and schools, which are not accessible to disabled citizens.
Implementing the plan in two of the busiest streets of the city requires nearly $150,000, he added.
