Junhi Han, chief of tradition sector, UNESCO South Asia Regional Workplace-New Delhi, mentioned that in 2024, greater than 185 million folks, together with 17,000 foreigners, visited West Bengal throughout Durga Puja, making it one of many largest cultural gatherings globally. “The pageant's financial contribution is $10.2 billion… Regardless of world enchantment, its profit was not accessible to aged individuals, disabled, girls and kids… To handle this hole, UNESCO, UN, West Bengal authorities, massArt and IIT-KGP have provide you with this Accessibility Programme,” Han mentioned.
Haimanti Banerji, professor, Division of Structure & Regional Planning, IIT-KGP, mentioned, “The draft plan might be prepared inside one week. We began the work round two months again. We've got consulted area consultants and visited the puja pandals.”
The plan will embrace particular tips, she mentioned, including, “We are going to observe particular zones – pickup and drop zones, pickup to pandal, utilization of ramps, meals zone, resting space, parking. There might be particular tips which puja committees might be customising. Correct signage could be used.”
The accessibility programme might be first applied from September 18-22 by massArt, a Kolkata based mostly non-governmental organisation. “The accessibility programme may have frequent tips which might be applied throughout Bengal,” Dhrubojyoti Banerjee, secretary, massArt.
