Kohima: Dimapur streets are hostile to the blind. On October 15, residents gathered at the traffic police control room to mark White Cane Safety Day. They highlighted a cycle of exploitation and danger. Local student Chingdang told the crowd he was recently shortchanged by an autorickshaw driver. He paid 500 rupees for a 50-rupee trip, but the driver pocketed 100 rupees of his change.
Commuting on foot brings constant fear. Vehicles block sidewalks, forcing pedestrians into traffic. Chingdang was once struck by a passing car's side mirror. The driver never stopped. "Knowing that we have disabilities, they took advantage," Chingdang said. He joined other speakers in calling for strict parking enforcement and clear safety advisories for motorists.
Computer instructor Initoli said local shopkeepers often ignore her questions, choosing to talk only to her sighted companions. Vendors sometimes slip spoiled produce into her bags. Transit is worse. Drivers charge inflated fares, ignore destination requests, or run over walking canes. Silent cars pass dangerously close, and drivers rarely honk to warn of their approach.
Special educator Mhasivino Khale emphasized that a white cane is an extension of the body. She warned the public against grabbing or moving visually impaired individuals without consent. Khale recounted a horror story from Mumbai where a stranger dragged a student across a busy highway against her will. She urged locals to stop assuming they know what disabled people need.
ACP Traffic Zubenthung Lotha pledged to improve safety, noting that footpaths must stay clear of parked cars. Prodigals' Home Director K Ela echoed these calls, demanding repairs for crumbling roads and ditch-ridden paths. The organizers, including LIC HFL Sarthak, Tikvah Training Centre, and Sign Reach Bilingual Ministry, insisted that true inclusion requires daily action, not just symbolic events.
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