The Roar of Ranthambore will not be a site of privilege as Ranthambore National Park moves toward facilitating safari rides for guests with disabilities. For the first time in the country, a safari vehicle has been developed to facilitate wheelchair-bound tourists and provide an accessible safari itinerary in the Ranthambore tiger reserve.
In accordance with the Rights of Individuals with Disabilities Act, 2016, the state forest division on December 5, 2020, issued an order pertaining that national parks, wildlife sanctuaries, forest reserves and zoos within the state need to be made disabled pleasant autos. The order reads, “Provision for 2 different individuals accompanying and guiding the disabled particular person in the course of the safari needs to be made within the automobile,”
Balendu Singh, former, honorary wildlife warden, who tailor-made the primary wheelchair accessible safari automobile, mentioned, “That is the primary time any state forest division will deploy such a safari automobile in any forest in India. The seats will be folded if a particular person needs to maintain sitting on a wheelchair, in any other case the disabled particular person can switch to a seat that is supplied with a seat belt for security. There’s an electrical winch which is used to help the wheelchair to manoeuvre up the ramp safely,” the TOI reported.
The inclusivity measure introduced by the authorities is cheered by the disabled guest to oftentimes faced difficulties during the safaris.