National policy for museums, disabled mooted

Preparation of a draft 'National Policy for Museums and the Disabled' is underway by the Mysore-based Regional Museum of Natural History (RMNH) of the Centre.

A two-day conference proposed in January next by the RMNH will discuss among other things the preparation of the draft national policy for consideration in various forums of museums and for its eventual submission to the ministries concerned and government agencies.

RMNH has established itself as a pioneer in the field of museum accessibility for persons with disabilities (PwDs). The first Museum Garden for Disabled was established on its campus in Mysore in October last. It has become a hub of activities involving PwDs.

The Regional Museum has so far organised two national level programmes "" a workshop in 2006 and a conference on 'Access for All' in 2007. In addition to more than 200 museologists from all over India, a large number of PwDs from South India and Madhya Pradesh participated in these programmes.

The details of the Garden for the Disabled have been published in international conferences of International Council of Museums and International Council for the Education of People with Visual Impairments. A 'Mysore Declaration on Museums and Disabled' has been one of the outcomes of the 'Access for All' conference, says RMNH scientist-in-charge B Venugopal.

The proposed conference on 'Museums and Disabled' will attract experts in the fields of museology, heritage management, disability studies, architecture, public works etc along with officials from various government departments.

A large number of agencies involved in helping the disabled along with many PwDs have confirmed their participation. The three-day conference venue will be either Mysore or Chennai.

Besides, the draft national policy, the programme is expected to cover an exhibition of assistive devices and books which may be useful for museums, special session on a proposed 'Accessible Gallery', demonstration of access audits of museums, and demonstration of 'Sensitisation of Museum Staff'.