The other side of Eden: No place for wheelchairs

As the hoopla over Taare Zameen Par dies down, the social consciousness it brought about the needs of the disabled seems to be extinguished as well. This was amply displayed last Tuesday, when the gates of Eden Gardens were found closed to 25 wheelchair-bound children suffering from cerebral palsy.

The reason -- the teenaged children are wheelchair-bound and the Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB) has no arrangements at the Eden's galleries for hosting people with such disability.

The students of the Indian Institute of Cerebral Palsy (IICP), couldn't catch the action at the ground when Kolkata Knight Riders took on Delhi Daredevils, despite receiving a special invitation by Shah Rukh Khan's Red Chillies Entertainment (RCE). The invitations were sent to IICP a week ago for 50 kids with cerebral palsy to watch the match as guests of Kolkata Knight Riders. The arrangement was worked out on behalf of the school by Barry O'Brian, who has been closely associated with the launch of Kolkata team.

IICP executive director Dr Sudha Kaul told The Indian Express: "The CAB told us that the stadium had no arrangements to accommodate our children. Hence, only 25 children, who can walk a little with the support of escort staff, could go. For those who could not, it is not just unfortunate but extremely demoralising as well. Even now, they are considering a protest against it."

But throwing the ball in RCE's court, CAB joint-secretary Amitava Banerjee said: "Inviting guests and looking after them at the IPL matches are being handled solely by the RCE. The CAB has no role here. It's not possible to host such children at the Eden, given its existing set-up."

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The other side of Eden: No place for wheelchairs

On his part, Red Chillies' Kolkata pointsman IS Bhandari said: "We always take care of underprivileged children. Shah Rukh Khan is very sensitive, he had told us that he wanted children to be specially invited at every match at Eden." Asked about the CAB's lack of infrastructure for the children in wheelchair, he said, "The body has many plans lined up for the future, these will slowly and steadily happen."

But the children are hard to console.

Abhijit Gayen (18) was one of those for whom Eden has no place. "I am really sad that my friends and I were refused entry at the Eden. I hope they arrange for ramps and other facilities in future to ensure we also become a part of the stadium crowd."