Residency evolves as a disabled-friendly monument

LUCKNOW: After Taj Mahal in Agra, Lucknow’s Residency is all set to become a ‘disabled-friendly’ monument. The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has undertaken several steps for the purpose. As an effort in the same direction, shooting of a documentary in sign language began here on Friday. Besides this, recently, Braille signage came up at the monument while a project to provide motorised wheelchairs for persons with disabilities is already in the pipeline.ASI Lucknow Circle’s superintending archaeologist NK Pathak said that the video will have, along with an audio track, an interpreter to explain the proceedings to the differently-abled. “The documentary will touch upon the monument’s history and will provide information about the sites located inside the complex,” he said. The documentary would be showcased at an interpretation center being developed at The Residency’s Museum. The ASI has engaged an expert from Doordarshan for preparing a 10-minute sign-language film about Residency. Sign language interpreter Sonia Sharma said that a person with hearing impairment often gets an incomplete experience while visiting monuments. “They can see guides talking but fail to comprehend. At times, this incompleteness is frustrating enough to defeat the purpose of visit. The sign-language documentary would do the needful,” said Sonia who became an interpreter to help her deaf and mute parents. The archaeological body also intends to prepare an audio-visual (AV) documentary for seven monuments in the Bara Imambara complex which include Bhoolbhulaiya and Rumi Darwaza. The facility of Braille signage has been provided under the Adarsh Smarak Yojana launched by the ministry of culture recently. “Inclusion of a monument in this scheme entails an upgrade of basic amenities such as restrooms and drinking facilities, setting up of ramps for free movement of the differently-abled, Braille literature for the visually impaired, and establishment of an interpretation centre in which tourists would be informed and guided about the historical site,” an official said.