Over 50 PwDs offer prayers at Puri temple, demand for permanent accessibility measures

Bhubaneswar: Over 50 persons with disabilities (PwDs) from across Odisha entered the Jagannath Temple in Puri together on Tuesday, in a symbolic gesture, renewing demands for permanent accessibility measures and inclusive pilgrimage facilities at the shrine.Many participants were visiting the 12th-century temple for the first time in their lives. The visit was facilitated by a social outfit that works for PwDs in the state in coordination with temple authorities following sustained demands by disability rights groups for equal access to the shrine.Special arrangements were made for the devotees, including a ramp near the Paschim Dwar and volunteer assistance, to help them avoid long queues during darshan.Members of the outfit said the collective visit reflected both joy and the years of exclusion faced by PwDs.State commissioner for Persons with Disabilities, Bratati Harichandan, termed the initiative timely, saying PwDs had long been demanding entry into the temple on par with other devotees. She added that the temple administration is working on improving accessibility measures.Members of the organisation pointed out that the lack of ramps, accessible pathways, seating arrangements and toilets continues to prevent many PwDs from visiting temples and pilgrimage centres across the country.“This is the first time in Odisha that more than 50 persons with disabilities have entered the Jagannath Temple together. Most of us could not visit earlier because the environment was inaccessible,” Nikunja Behera, a member of the organisation, said.He added that while the state govt currently operates a pilgrimage scheme for senior citizens under which travel and related arrangements are facilitated, PwDs remain excluded from it.The members demanded that the scheme be extended to include PwDs and that the Puri temple premises be made fully accessible for devotees with disabilities.