THAIPUSAM: Batu Caves remains inaccessible to the disabled

IN a few more days Hindu's will be celebrating Thaipusam. In Hindu mythology, it is the day Goddess Parvarti bestowed upon her son Lord Muruga the vel (lance) to vanquish evil.

Thousands of disabled Hindu devotees will never have the opportunity in their lifetime to witness the celebration.

This lance denotes spiritual insight and the ability to differentiate right from wrong.

 There are thousands of disabled Hindu devotees who would never have the opportunity in their lifetime to witness the celebration in Batu Caves. We, at Damai Disabled Persons Association, had, on various occasions, highlighted our plight to the temple management, relevant  authorities, ministers, non-governmental organisations and the public.

 To date, nothing has been forthcoming and the temple remains inaccessible to the disabled.  I am puzzled that in a country which guarantees freedom of religion,   the disabled community  has been discriminated against for years because places of worship on high ground are inaccessible.

 We were informed that the temple was undergoing a RM3.1 million renovation work.

Damai approached the temple management to include some basic necessities for the disabled, such as the revival of the funicular train service, and toilets and parking space for the disabled.

 However, we have only seen a ramp which was built to provide access to the toilet. Unfortunately, the design of the ramp is clearly unsuitable for wheelchair users; in fact it poses danger to  users.

 The effort to revive the funicular train relates back to 2007, when the Tourism Ministry was told to conduct a study on the old cable railway tracks next to the staircase.

Unfortunately, nothing transpired after that and many Thaipusams have come and gone  since.

 V. Murugeswaran, President, Damai Disabled Persons Association Selangor  and  Federal Territory, Petaling Jaya, Selangor