We are the seventh-largest country and the sixth-largest economy in the world. But what’s the point of all this when our own feel unwelcomed and are subjected to bias?
Recently, a wheelchair-bound woman shared how she had to face inconvenience at a movie theatre.
Taking to Twitter, Kavya Mukhija shared in detail what all happened with her when she went to PVR Cinemas which claims to be wheelchair accessible.
I went to the movies with my family after ages in Delhi at @_PVRCinemas, Vegas Mall, Sector 14, Dwarka) because I had heard that it was wheelchair accessible and even their page on @bookmyshow said so! (1/n)
— Kavya Mukhija (she/her) (@KavyaMukhija) March 1, 2022
When she reached the said PVR, she realized that she would either have to get up from her wheelchair or sit far away from her family, near the doors.
When I spoke to the deputy manager there, he said that the hall was 'wheelchair accessible' because the wheelchair could enter. What next? Where were wheelchair-users supposed to sit? (3/n)
— Kavya Mukhija (she/her) (@KavyaMukhija) March 1, 2022
On being questioned, the authorities told her that they claimed to be ‘wheelchair accessible’ because a wheelchair could enter their premises. This counter irked Kavya who then questioned:
Why am I required to sit away just because I use a wheelchair? What inclusion are we talking about? This is 2022 and we still don't know what wheelchair access is? Why can't I just feel included and welcomed for once? (5/n)
— Kavya Mukhija (she/her) (@KavyaMukhija) March 1, 2022
She goes on to share that this wasn’t the first time she faced discrimination in the theatre.
It’s frustrating to experience discrimination every single time! This was not the first time I faced this in the theatre. What an irony that this happened on International Wheelchair Day! @_PVRCinemas, you RUINED our family time. (6/n)
— Kavya Mukhija (she/her) (@KavyaMukhija) March 1, 2022
However, when she raised her query to the deputy manager there, he apologized and assured her that he would speak to the committee about this.
I spoke to the deputy manager there, after the movie. He apologized and assured that he’d convey it to the committee and make the theatre accessible. I really hope they educate themselves on what exactly is wheelchair accessibility. (7/n)
— Kavya Mukhija (she/her) (@KavyaMukhija) March 1, 2022
You can see her sitting near the exit.
ID: A photo of Kavya in the movie theatre. She’s sitting near the exit (not visible in the photo) and stairs leading to the next row. (9/9) pic.twitter.com/Xk4LJZ1wRI
— Kavya Mukhija (she/her) (@KavyaMukhija) March 1, 2022
This is all the more outrageous because the theatre claimed it was wheelchair accessible in the booking app.
ID: A screenshot of book my show’s PVR Vegas Dwarka theatre layout, showing the seats reserved for wheelchair users/persons with disabilities. (8/n) pic.twitter.com/vo8kfFokzw
— Kavya Mukhija (she/her) (@KavyaMukhija) March 1, 2022
People online lauded her for raising her voice against this injust and also said that we need more inclusive spaces with better facilities for people with disabilities.
Thank you so much for raising this issue on SM. We as a society really need to contemplate on the inclusion of specially abled people at different public places. We all are EQUAL and we should make this society more inclusive.
There’s a positive hope.❤️— Jolly Shifi (@JollyShifi) March 2, 2022
Ugh. Sorry you had to go through this. It should not be your responsibility to explain to the manager and @_PVRCinemas what wheelchair accessibility looks like. 🙁
— Nidhi (@keeperofthekeys) March 2, 2022
Always raise the voice, change will happen soon
— Harish Mukhija (@mukhija_harish) March 2, 2022
Very shameful @_PVRCinemas Not only is this apathetic, this is also misleading marketing almost amounting to defrauding. Why claim to have accessible seats when you don’t have!
— Shantinath Chaudhary (@shantihp) March 2, 2022
How insensitive! Are we ever going to learn?