Rajiv: This is not just a question of PWD's, but a wider consumer question. People who can't afford to pay for services like education and health are normally thought to be ineligible for these services, but this is changing because consumer experts now say that though certain sections of the population can't afford to pay for their education and health, the govt collects taxes from them in several indirect forms and so have to compensate for what they can't pay.
This also brings the question if we should define those receiving these services should be regarded as consumers or simply as citizens. Some even feel consumers aren't different from the citizens. Also, if a company calls itself 'consumer friendly', it can't do so without addressing the issues of those who need their services the most. How can, for example, an airlines claim to be consumer friendly, when it can't handle PWD's in the most friendly of ways? And, there's something called goodwill which is important for a company. If the general public see these companies take utmost care of those sections of the consumers who take their services, it instills confidence in the rest, who feel encouraged to take their services as well. This way, it does more good than harm for the companies. So, for those folks who regard concessions and discounts as not so good, we should remember that we indirectly are doing a favour to the company by making them address our needs and also get our needs addressed. Subramani -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of disability rights initiative Sent: Thursday, August 10, 2006 1:10 PM To: [email protected] Subject: Re: [AI] Who should pay for concessions? *********************** No virus was detected in the attachment no filename Your mail has been scanned by InterScan MSS. *********************** subramani, kiran, this is indeed the big question. our constitution mandates the government, as the largest caretaker, to provide education, housing, transportation, medical health facilities and the like. in providing for these the disabled have been systematically excluded as their needs were not considered when these facilities came up and we found ourselves excluded in education as schools and colleges are inaccessible and so is the transport system and the health system. for these reasons, and to bring pwds on a equal footing the government has come up with concessions so as to now include pwds in an otherwise inaccessible environment. now, as we privitise and the governments role reduces these huge corporations which move into private hands and which are still inaccessible who takes on the responsibility of concessions? here , i feel, the role of corporate social responsibility comes in as corporates have control of resources and intervene in many areas of social life. Corporates have a responsibility towards society and whilst they are driven by profits they must also be made to serve society. under these circumstances now that the private sector will have to deliver what the government did earlier it becomes the responsibility of the private sector to continue with the concessions until all systems develop to include disabled. in a situation where all needs are met concessions may be withdrawn and until then the role as a concession giver just moves on from the government to the private sector. will this happen? regards rajive ----- Original Message ----- From: "Subramani L" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Thursday, August 10, 2006 10:33 AM Subject: Re: [AI] Who should pay for concessions? > Kiran: > > This's what I exactly argue in my Ph.D thesis. Your point makes perfect > sense. > > Subramani > > -----Original Message----- > From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Kiran Kaja > Sent: Wednesday, August 09, 2006 11:34 PM > To: [email protected] > Subject: [AI] Who should pay for concessions? > > *********************** > No virus was detected in the attachment no filename > > Your mail has been scanned by InterScan MSS. > *********************** > > > Hi all, > > Having followed the thread on DGCA guidelines and the subsequent > discussion > of concessions for the blind or escorts, I have been thinking about it > for a > couple of days. > > I feel that in our country, the existence of public sector in businesses > like transport and education has benifitted persons with blindness. If > all > the industry and utility services were run by private firms, I don't > imagine > they would come forward with so many concessions and exemptions for us. > Providing concessions is much simpler for public sector or government. > However, this raises a big question of who should eventually pay for the > concessions? > > As citizens of the country, we are entitled to lead a life which closely > resembles a sighted or normal person who doesn't have a disability. This > obviously entails extra expenditure because of various reasons. To > offset > this additional cost, concessions and exemptions are provided. I > strongly > feel that since the government collects taxes from individuals as well > as > businesses in the private sector, it should be the one paying for these > concessions. If the Railways were privatised, the cost of providing > concession to blind persons should be born by the government and not by > the > private company which runs the railways. If a private company > voluntarily > comes forward with concessions, it is a very good gesture on their part. > But > if concessions are imposed by law, the cost of these concessions should > be > reimbursed. > > For instance, when most of the other passengers of airlines were paying > full > fair for their tickets, blind persons were only paying half. If we put > the > social argument of concession aside for a while, the airline company was > loozing money by carrying blind passengers. The airline company in > question > also pays the same tax irrespective of offering concessions. So, there > is no > insentive at all for the airline company by carrying blind passengers. > On > the contrary, the company gets less money. > > I think it is the responsibility of the government to provide or pay for > the > concessions as they should look after the welfare of its citizens. > Private > companies or public sector companies for that matter should never be > forced > to bear the cost of concessions. > > What do you all think about this? I know this is never going to happen > in > India. > > Regards, > Kiran. > > > To unsubscribe send a message to [EMAIL PROTECTED] > with the subject unsubscribe. > > To change your subscription to digest mode or make any other changes, > please visit the list home page at > > http://accessindia.org.in/mailman/listinfo/accessindia_accessindia.org.i > n > > > To unsubscribe send a message to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with the subject unsubscribe. > > To change your subscription to digest mode or make any other changes, please visit the list home page at > http://accessindia.org.in/mailman/listinfo/accessindia_accessindia.org.i n > > > -- > No virus found in this incoming message. > Checked by AVG Free Edition. > Version: 7.1.394 / Virus Database: 268.10.7/410 - Release Date: 8/5/2006 > > -- No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.1.405 / Virus Database: 268.10.8/413 - Release Date: 8/8/2006 To unsubscribe send a message to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with the subject unsubscribe. To change your subscription to digest mode or make any other changes, please visit the list home page at http://accessindia.org.in/mailman/listinfo/accessindia_accessindia.org.i n To unsubscribe send a message to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with the subject unsubscribe. To change your subscription to digest mode or make any other changes, please visit the list home page at http://accessindia.org.in/mailman/listinfo/accessindia_accessindia.org.in
