"We don't want people to treat us with empathy or sympathy. We wanted to be treated as equals," said Neenu Kewlani, who along with three of her friends went around the country in 82 days on their wheelchairs, to study the facilities available for the differently-abled in the states and also to create awareness about barrier-free tourism.
Kewlani, along with her friends, reached Goa on Saturday. They said they would be visiting popular tourist destinations in the state to check out whether it is disabled-friendly.
"Forty-six million differently-abled persons travel across the world every year. But very few come to India. We need to make our tourist destinations disabled-friendly and the states should work towards ensuring this not as a favour, but to enhance their business prospects. We are also tax-paying citizens, who would like to come on a holiday and spend money," added Kewlani.
'Beyond barriers - The incredible India tour' was attempted by four friends - Arvind Prabhoo, Nishant Khade, Sunita Sancheti and Kewlani, with a goal to ensure that people with disabilities get an equal opportunity when it comes to traveling and touring in India.
The tour started from September 28 and will end on December 19 in Goa. They have travelled across 28 states and 40 cities covering 16,000 km.
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