Ms. Anjlee Agarwal
Ms. Anjlee Agarwal
Organization:
Samarthya, National Center for Promotion of Barrier-Free Environment For Disabled Persons (A project of Samarthyam- Regd. No. 35922)Designation: Executive Director& Access Advisor
Postal Address: B-181, Mansarovar Garden, New Delhi-110015 (India).
Tel: 91-11-41019389, (M) 9810558321
E-mail: samarthyaindia@yahoo.com This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it
Web site: www.samarthyaindia.com
Personal details
Date of Birth: 23th August 1968
Ed.Qualifications: Bachelor of Science (Hon ours), Fashion & Apparel Technology, University of Delhi.
Training Experience: 2000, United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP) on Promotion of Accessible Tourism at Bali, Indonesia. 2002, UNESCAP on Non-Handicapping Environment for Disabled People at Bangkok, Thailand. 2004, Asia Pacific Development Centre on Disability (APCD) on Non-Handicapping Environment Workshop for National Trainers and Policy Makers, Bangkok (Thailand) 2004, Presented papers at 10th International Conference on Transport & Mobility for Elderly and the Disabled, Hamamatsu, Japan.
Awards: 2003, National Award – Role Model, presented by Hon’ble President of India2005, Cavinkare Ability Mastery Award 2005, Social Act of Courage- 13th Red & White Bravery Gold Award, Delhi State (Samarthya)
Disability: Muscular Dystrophy (assisted wheel chair user) needs escort for activities of daily living.
Anjlee Agarwal is presently member of Working Group on Empowering the Disabled (Barrier Free Environment and Social Awareness), Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment, Government of India; for the XI Five Year Plan: 2007-2012.
Profile of Activities:
1) Awareness & Capacity Building Excursion Tours: Since 1996, organized more than 60 tours for persons with severe disabilities to places of historical, cultural, religious and tourist interests’ promoting the concept of Barrier-Free Tourism.2) Dilli Haat: In 2002, conducted access audit of Dilli Haat (a popular Tourist spot in Delhi) to make it “Accessible to All”. Delhi Tourism & Transport Development Corporation (DTTDC), Government of Delhi; implemented the recommendations forwarded in 2003-05. Dilli Haat received National Award (President’s Award) for Promotion of Barrier Free Environment (BFE) on 3rd December 2005, International World Disability Day. A photographic exhibition on “Making of Barrier Free Dilli Haat” was jointly organized by Samarthya and Delhi Tourism in December 2005.
3) Bus Rapid Transit System (BRTS), 2003: Associated with Transportation Research & Injury Prevention Programme (TRIPP) Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Delhi on accessible designs for low floor bus, bus shelters and corridors/dedicated lane for the proposed BRTS.
4) Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC): An access audit of the sample station was conducted in April and followed it till its completion in November 2002. Samarthya is associated with DMRC to make the system user friendly and 110 stations of Delhi Metro to have Universal Design. The work is still being followed. Samarthya is now associated with Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Ltd. (BMRCL) also, to provide Universal Design in the upcoming Metro in Bangalore. A presentation of DMRC was made at BMRCL in August 2006 and the suggestions/recommendations were forwarded to MD, BMRCL.
5) For Rehabilitation Council of India (RCI) (Statutory body under the Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment, Government of India) 2003: Resource Persons at “Summit of the Minds”, Delhi Organized ‘Training of Trainers Course for Promotion of Non-Handicapping Barrier Free Environment for RCI at Bangalore & Chennai
6) Resource Persons at Training of Trainers Course for Promotion of Non-Handicapping Barrier Free Environment and creation of Resource Pool of Access Auditors: Post Earthquake reconstruction work in Gujarat, 2003 National Seminar on PwDs and Elderly, Kolkatta (West Bengal) 2004, organized by the Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment and IIT, Kharagpur Department of Social Welfare, Government of Goa, Goa 2004
7) Office of the Chief Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities(Statutory body under the Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment, Government of India): Resource persons for “Creation of Resource Pool of Access Auditors” 2-day Workshops at Lucknow (Uttar Pradesh), Chandigarh (Union Territory) and Raipur (Chattisgarh), 2005-06. Around 300 participants from 14 States with diverse backgrounds including architects, engineers and urban planners and NGO’s were trained on importance of BFE and practical field visit i.e. access audit and report presentation.
8) Following the Post-Tsunami reconstruction work: Organized 3-day workshop in June 2005 and August 2006 in Port Blair & Rangat, Andaman Island; project supported by international NGO Handicap International.
9) Access Audits (Facilities Check): of more than 60 public utility buildings are conducted in various States.
10) Disability Awareness/experiential Exercise Training Workshops: I) 5 workshops for Auto rickshaw/three wheeler drivers (Badge Training) 2003, State Transport Authority, Burari, Delhi and Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) bus drivers II) School of Planning and Architecture (SPA), Delhi, 2005- Students of Transport Planning, Architecture and Industrial Design. III) Central Road Research Institute (CRRI), Delhi, 2006- Scientists, Researchers, Academicians, Transport, Town & Urban Planners.
11) Organized First National Conference on Accessible Transportation:“Mobility for All”, 2006: in academic collaboration with Transportation Research & Injury Prevention Programme (TRIPP) Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Delhi, 17-19 March 2006. The very purpose of this Conference was to bring the Government, service providers, stake holders and user groups on one platform and Draft Implementation Policies and Guidelines on “National Policy on Accessible Transportation on the basis of Universal Design” addressing the concerns of PwDs and senior citizens. This Conference was the first endeavor of its kind in the country. The National Conference was supported by Union Tourism Ministry and Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment, Government of India.
12) Publications: a) Prepared the first Technical Brochure “Access for All” on Internal & External Design Considerations. b) Author of the “Training Manual to promote Barrier Free Environment- Guidelines for Training of Trainers”, 2005 published by Rehabilitation Council of India (RCI)
13) Research Studies
a) “Accessibility of Indian Railways”, 2005: Includes users’ group perspective; facilities check of stations, reservation centre and compartment for disabled and recommendations for making Railways accessible. Low cost, tried and tested designs from developing countries and user perspective (disabled persons) and recommendations were forwarded to Research Design Standards Organization (RDSO), Ministry of Railways and other concerned departments. Samarthya is currently working on designs of accessible Railway air conditioned coaches with toilets. Recommendations are under positive consideration by RDSO.
b) “Promotion of user-friendly Public Transport Systems (Bus & bus shelters) in India”, 2005: Conducted a Research Study to provide user groups’ perspective on bus shelters, Low Floor Buses (LFB) and upcoming Bus Rapid Transit System by the Delhi Government with the objective to evaluate the existing infrastructure, to assess and document the present situation and to provide concrete direction involving the user groups on how to make public transport user friendly. Prepared Cost effective plan compatible with LFB (based on the principle of Universal Design) and a prototype at the Hauz Khas Bus Terminal was constructed by Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) in March 2006.
c) “Promotion of user-friendly Public Transport Systems (Bus & Bus Shelters) in Delhi”, 2006: During the course of research study on accessibility of buses and Bus Q Shelters (BQS), suggestions to make the new bus shelters as per the prototype were forwarded to concerned departments. The entire route (on which the Low Floor Buses are plying) i.e. from Hauz Khas terminus to Shivaji Stadium terminus has been selected for the same. Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment sanctioned Rupees 10 million to DTC to make 70 bus shelters. Drawings and sketches with universal designs of Bus Queue Shelters are being considered by both DTC - 25 BQS and New Delhi Municipal Corporation (NDMC) - 197 BQS. Samarthya is monitoring and evaluating the construction process.
d) Currently developing “Research & Design for making of Braille Registration plates and Audio Meters in Auto Rickshaws”