The passing of the Disabled Act in 1996 gave them the opportunity to voice their rights for equal opportunities and participation. Sadly, there are few listeners. With its active force of non-governmental organisations, Vadodara has been fairly successful in providing a support system to the ``differently abled''. However, implementation of a long-fought-for legislation and its popular acknowledgement are yet to happen.

Says Shweta Trivedi of the Baroda Citizens Council, ``Yes, we are the first State in the country to have a disability commissioner as stipulated by the Disability Act. But merely having a person occupying the high chair is not enough. To get things moving, we need the collective support of all Non-Governmental Organisations in the field''. Trivedi points out that while a legislation for the disabled exists, few know of its existence. ``For instance, the VUDA (Vadodara Urban Development Authority ) has a by-law reserving parking spaces for two vehicles of the disabled at every parking lot. But in how many places do you see the public adhering to the by-law? How many, for that matter, even know that such a by-law exists?'' she asks.

Hemanta Krishnadas, vice president of V-One Society, agrees. ``The Non-Governmental Organisations in the city, on their part, have been successful in covering the various aspects of disability and the government has been co-operative by way of grants. However, general awareness has to be generated. We have reserved seats for the disabled in buses. But they're occupied by regular passengers, who don't bother to vacate them for a disabled passenger,'' she says.

Krishnadas and Trivedi feel strongly about the architechtural barriers that restrict access to public buildings for the disabled. Trivedi cites the instance of the Vadodara Railway Station. ``No disabled person can enter the station because it has no ramp facility". Even if he does manage to get inside, there is no way he can reach the first-floor reservation counter. Naturally, he'll be put off by the idea of taking an independent initiative, which defeats the purpose of our work''.

Nisha Grover, principal of the Akshar Centre for Hearing Impaired Children, feels that the government has failed to evaluate the various programmes for the disabled. ``Many Non-Governmental Organisations start with enthusiasm but their efforts fall wayside for want of infrastructure. "We have more than 20 schools in Gujarat for the hearing impaired but not more than three use hearing aids. This despite the subsidised hearing aids provided by the government,'' she says.

Grover holds the government's ``paternalistic attitude towards social welfare'' responsible for the situation. ``They have to realise that good enough is not enough. And considering the exisiting infrastructure in India, mainstreaming of some children makes sense instead of trying to accommodate them all without the required support,'' she adds.