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A city where you cannot walk is no city at all, says Justice Devan Ramachandran
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News18•19-10-2026, 15:19
A city where you cannot walk is no city at all, says Justice Devan Ramachandran
- •Kerala High Court judge Justice Devan Ramachandran stated that visually impaired people need a society that respects their freedom rather than mere sympathy.
- •Inaugurating White Cane Day in Kakkanad, he criticized the misuse of footpaths and tactile paths meant for visually impaired pedestrians.
- •He remarked that people with sight are truly blind because they fail to see pedestrian pathways and continue to let vehicles occupy them.
- •He suggested that motorists and bus drivers should experience walking blindfolded with a white cane to understand the daily struggles of the visually impaired.
- •The event also highlighted Project Surya by the Rotary Club of Cochin Global, which has successfully trained over two thousand visually impaired individuals.
Key Questions Answered
Justice Devan Ramachandran criticized the large-scale misuse of footpaths and tactile paths by vehicles and emphasized that society must respect the freedom of visually impaired people instead of creating obstacles.
Prior to the event, Justice Ramachandran walked blindfolded with a white cane for a few minutes, describing it as one of the most difficult moments of his life and suggesting that motorists undergo the same exercise.
Project Surya is an initiative by the Rotary Club of Cochin Global that provides free training in computers, assistive technology, mobility, communication, and life skills to visually impaired people, helping about 80 percent of its former trainees secure employment.
