India has four Young Voices groups – one each in Delhi, Bangalore, Jharkhand and Mumbai. Members focus on making sure that existing laws are enforced and lobbying for new legislation. Campaign issues include: access to public sector jobs, accessible voting, access to social protection and advocacy for a new law to harmonise with the UNCRPD.
Leonard Cheshire Disability
Young Voices
24 November 2011
Transportation reality check in Bangalore
Young Voices members in Bangalore held a ‘reality check’ on TV as part of their campaign to make all public transport in the state of Karnataka accessible. Reporters filmed the Young Voices members walking to the bus stop, waiting and watching as three or four buses passed them, unwilling to stop. They then went to another bus stop, where they boarded three buses to check if they were accessible. The conductors were rude about the whole exercise so members then spoke to the camera about the problems they had experienced and asked the government to address them. When the programme was broadcast, a Young Voices member was phoned from the studio to discuss the campaign and call for government action. Response to the film was so positive that it was shown two more times.
Young Voices is an international campaign of the Leonard Cheshire Disability Global Alliance