YEREVAN, JUNE 6, NOYAN TAPAN. The project Availability is Independence, which is implemented by Disabled Persons' Union Pyunik in Armenia, aims at making it possible for disabled people to freely make use of public transport means. Within the framework of the project during the June 5 discussion Hakob Abrahamian, Chairperson of Union Pyunik, mentioned that it is envisaged to put at least 2 transport means in action as a result of the project, ending on October 1. In his words, the adjustment of transport means for disabled people is envisaged by the 2007 annual project of disabled people's social protection. Jemma Bagdasarian, Head of the department for the problems of disabled people and the elderly of RA Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs, mentioned that the state budget has allocated no resources for the solution of this problem. In her words, the Ministry organizes various discussions in terms of finding variants of the problem solution. Particularly, the issue of introducing a "social taxi service" system in the republic for disabled children, having moving problems, is under discussion. And Arsen Gasparian, employee of the Transport Ministry of Yerevan Mayor's Office, mentioned that one of Renault buses belonging to Bus LTD of Mayor's Office, has undergone structural changes, directed to the disabled people's service provision. In his words, one of these days the bus will be introduced to the public and the way of its productive and purposeful exploitation will be decided. A. Gasparian also informed that one of the trolley-busses to be brought to Yerevan this year will be adjusted for disabled people, too. Armen Alaverdian, Executive Director of Unison NGO, introduced their version of the problem solution. He mentioned that the RA bill on "Provision of public places and transport availability for disabled and slow-moving people" was developed and introduced to NA on the initiative of the organization. According to the bill, the claim on providing at least one available transport in each route for the disabled people should be included among the competitive claims, announced for the purpose of transporting passengers by buses and microbuses.

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