Anjlee Agarwal and Sanjeev Sachdeva, both persons with muscular dystrophy, a muscle disease that causes muscle weakness are pioneers in barrier-free tourism in India. Muscular dystrophies are characterized by progressive skeletal muscle weakness, defects in muscle proteins, and the death of muscle cells and tissue. Both are assisted wheelchair users and have been at the forefront of advocacy campaigns on the need to make public places accessible. Versatile and always bubbling with creative ideas, both firmly believe that persons with disability have a right to live with dignity and grace.
Anjlee and Sanjeev have the distinction of conducting workshops on accessibility and barrier-free tourism both in India and abroad. “Barrier-free tourism can go a long way in integrating Persons with Disability in the mainstream society,” they assert. They point out that travel tours for persons with disabilities can be actually act as therapy for them. “When one goes to an unknown place, historical or inaccessible, one learns more. Through such exposure persons with disability develop a sense of confidence and a determination to fight against all odds,” the positive- spirited Anjlee and Sanjeev spells out their mantra. Besides such trips help create awareness on disability in all the places we go, they point out. Both have been the inspiration behind Samarthya which has been playing a pivotal role in advocating the vision of Anjlee and Sanjeev for a barrier-free world. Working for the past more than five years, Samarthya’s prime goal is to promote “Inclusive Society and Universal Design in the Built Environment and Transportation”. Samarthya for the past several years have been able to develop modules on accessibility and have been conducting accessibility audits in several historical and public places.
Winners of several awards, Anjlee and Sanjeev are an epitome of courage and determination. They have shown the world that nothing is impossible for the socio-medically disadvantaged and they are capable of doing which many general persons cannot even dream of.
For more about the work of Anjlee and Sanjeev, log on to http://www.samarthyam.org/
(contribution by Ms Ruchi Sabharwal dated 4th Aug 2007)
Comments: The story of Anjlee and Sanjeev is very inspiring. Despite their disabilities, they are working hard to change the life of many others like them. Accessibility is an important issue and major campaign needs to be launched to make people aware on how to make public places barrier-free. There should be a policy directive that all public places are made accessible
