New Delhi, Jan. 10 :    New Delhi, Jan. 10:  For the past month, a large part of Delhi has been counting the days to this Sunday: Stephen Hawking, Lucasian professor of mathematics in Cambridge University, is landing here for a lecture that day. But the Centre for Philosophy and Foundation for Science has been at a loss on how to make travel easier for the severely-handicapped astrophysicist. Ranjit Nair of the science foundation has been scouting desperately for a vehicle that will enable Hawking to move around freely and spare him the indignity of being lifted in and out of wheelchairs. Unable to find one, he has turned to a disabled people's centre for help. 'We were very excited about Hawking's visit and offered help to the CPFC, his hosts,' said Rama Chari of the National Centre for Promotion of Employment for the Disabled People. 'We suggested a minibus designed and manufactured by Madhur Bhandari of Akshay Pratishtha, an NGO for disabled persons,' said Chari. The minibus is equipped with a lift that takes the handicapped person to the wheelchair inside the bus. When Hawking uses this vehicle, a disabled person will be exercising a right set down in the 1955 Disabilities Act in India for the first time. The law says: 'Establishments in the transport sector shall take special measures to adapt rail compartments, buses, vessels and aircraft in such a way as to permit easy access to such persons.' Chari said India was one of the few countries which has not paid much attention to its disabled. Most foreign countries have made travel simple for them, she added. The centre for disabled persons has long been lobbying to make the government honour this clause in the Disabilities Act. Two years ago, centre director Javed Abidi was almost thrown off his wheelchair when he was being lifted into an Indian Airlines plane. Abidi filed a PIL in the Supreme Court, demanding special aisle chairs and an ambulance. 'The government contested the PIL on the ground that such special facilities would be too expensive,' said Chari. It was then left to the Supreme Court, and a year ago it ordered compliance with the Disabilities Act. All major airports now have aisle chairs and ambulances, facilities which came in handy for the Prime Minister after his knee operation.