hi, kanchan i am sending it right now. it is the responsibility of all of us to write the same facts and express ourself so please do it. srikanth
On 6/15/09, SC Vashishth <[email protected]> wrote: > Dear Kanchan, > > You have pointed out to very relevant issues faced by travellers with > disabilities in Indian Railways. The provisions being made at Railways > stations are not accessible from any point of view. While new Toilets of > NDMC that we worked on are free to use, the railway stations Rest rooms are > in very bad shape and are being charged for. To me all rail ticket holders > should be allowed to use these service free of cost and the same should be > maintained in the highest hygienic conditions. Its because of this reason > that many prefer to spoil the station by using the train toilets while train > is on the platform!! > > The exclusionary practice of separate boggy is a second class non-ac 8 > seater compartment appended close to the guards coach which in itself is in > accessible. My experience indicates that it is more often used by railway > police staff and people bribing railway staff. Not only Users feel highly > unsafe and vulnerable but they don't get other services like Pantry > tea-Breakfast etc as this is not connected to the train at all. > > Well we are writing a letter to the Railway Minister covering all the points > that you mentioned. > > Thanks! > > > 2009/6/15 Pamnani <[email protected]> > >> We have been expressing our concern and anguish regarding the railways >> on this list. Now is the time to act. I am copying below some points which >> can be sent to the Railway Minister. many of us are affected lets see how >> many of us are really bothered. if you are not only an arm chair >> complainer >> then please send out a letter to the Railway minister on similar lines >> and >> send a copy to Secretatiat >> E-mail Address(es): >> [email protected] >> >> Ms. Mamta Banerjee >> >> Hon’ble Minister for Railways >> >> Room No. 239 >> >> Rail Bhavan >> >> New Delhi – 110 001 >> >> >> >> SUGGESTIONS FOR THE RAILWAY BUDGET VIS-À-VIS DISABILITY >> >> >> >> Travelling in train continues to be an ordeal for disabled people and >> senior citizens in our country. Their safety and needs should be taken >> into >> account while planning the Railway Budget. >> >> >> >> Even though The Disability Act (enacted over a decade ago) mandates >> railway >> stations and coaches to be made barrier free for disabled people, its >> implementation leaves much to be desired. >> >> >> >> Following are some of the suggestions for the Rail Budget with respect to >> the needs of people with disabilities: >> >> >> >> a.. Railway Stations: Railway stations are not accessible for people with >> disabilities. Apart from a ramp (sometimes it is just a slope and not a >> proper ramp!) which is available in some stations and reserved parking, >> there are no facilities for people with disabilities at the stations. The >> issue of accessing the reserved parking, reaching the various platforms >> and >> getting on to the train for people with mobility impairment; making >> enquiries and getting information about rail routes, arrival/departure, >> etc. >> for hearing impaired people; and safe and independent mobility and access >> to >> information for visually impaired persons are not being taken into account >> while renovating/upgrading the railway stations. Specific Plan (covering >> all >> aspects of accessibility for disabled people) should be prepared to make >> all >> stations disabled friendly. All passenger amenities that are being planned >> should ensure that they cater to the needs of disabled passengers as well. >> There should be availability of serviceable wheelchairs at every platform >> and sign language interpreters at every station. >> >> >> a.. Coaches: There are now ‘special coaches’ for disabled people in >> certain trains. The approach is exclusionary and defeats the very purpose >> of >> inclusiveness and a universally accessible environment. The coach is >> totally disconnected from all other compartments. Only 8 passengers along >> with the escorts can travel. The design of ALL coaches should follow the >> universal design concept and should be accessible for all. There should >> be >> a clear plan to design coaches which are inclusive, so that disabled >> people >> can travel with dignity and comfort in whichever class or compartment that >> they wish to, from say a general category bogey to a Ist AC Coach! >> >> >> a.. Allocating appropriate seats in coaches: While booking tickets using >> the Railway Concession Forms, persons with disabilities and their escorts >> should be assigned seats according to their preference, such as lower >> berths, seats near the entry/exit of the coach, etc. >> >> >> a.. Railway Concessions: Concessions are available only for mail and >> express trains but not for superfast trains like Rajdhani, Shatabdi, etc. >> The disability concessions should be available in all trains including >> local >> trains. >> >> >> a.. Procedure for availing concession: The whole procedure of getting >> concession is very complicated. ‘Disability Certificate’ issued by >> Government to people with disability is not valid for railway concession! >> People with disability have to collect a Railway concession Form from >> DRM’s >> office, fill it in, and go through medical examination once again to get >> the >> concession. Also, they come with 5 years validity and need to be renewed. >> Disability Certificate should be considered as a valid proof for availing >> railway concession. >> >> >> a.. On-line Ticket Booking: On-line booking is a great boon. However, >> disabled people cannot buy their tickets online, as they have to submit >> the >> railway concession form while booking their tickets. This really makes it >> very difficult for people with disability. Disabled people should be >> allowed >> to book their tickets online (One can give the details online, which can >> be >> cross checked by T.C. at the time of the Journey, as it is done in the >> case >> of Senior Citizens). >> >> >> a.. The Indian Railways Website should be made accessible for people with >> disabilities. It should comply with the guidelines announced by the >> Department of Technology (DIT) on web accessibility (WCAG 2.0). >> >> >> a.. Training of the railway staff: Disabled people often face a lot of >> issues dealing with railway staff who are not only ill informed about >> disability concessions & procedures but are also insensitive and misbehave >> with them. There should be a system to make disability training mandatory >> for all railway staff. >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> Kanchan Pamnani >> Advocate & Solicitor >> 9, Suleman Chambers, >> Battery Street, Colaba, >> Mumbai - 400 039. >> >> >> >> >> To unsubscribe send a message to >> [email protected] 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 >> > > > > -- > Warm regards, > > Subhash Chandra Vashishth > Mobile: +91 (11) 9811125521 > Please don't print this e-mail unless you really need to. Consider > environment! > > > 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 > 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
