Thank you George for pointing out the language used by the Railway Minister.
Firstly she uses the term "handicap" which is not acceptable and "physical handicap" can be interpreted as "person with orthopedic disability". If she really wants people with orthopedic impairments to travel by train, what provisions has she made in the budget to make railways accessible? Secondly, the demand we have placed for long is that concessions in Rajdhani and Shatabdi Express for all "persons with disabilities". May we know why people with intellectual disabilities are not included in this concessions? Only in last year, we were taking few young adults with intellectual disability in self- advocacy programme from Kolkata to Bhubaneswar. When concessions were not given in Jan-Shatabdi, we wrote specifically on this to the Railway ministry. Our policymakers have always intentionally or unintentionally increase the gap between different disability groups. And there are enough reasons for people with intellectual/psychosocial disabilities to feel cheated always. This news could be really good news had the language of the Railway Minister being different. Regards Shampa Sengupta Sruti Disability Rights Centre Kolkata On Sat, Feb 26, 2011 at 2:02 PM, George Abraham <[email protected]> wrote: > Hi, > > Extension of the Railway concession to the Physically Handicapped in the > Rajdhani and Shatabdi Express trains is good news. However, I would > strongly > assert that the terminology "Physically Handicapped" leaves scope for > varied > interpretation. For instance, some times the T T Es do not think the Blind > travellers are Physically Handicapped. Having an argument with the TTE on > the Rajdhani Express and being thrown out by the CRPF is not quite my > idea > of a concession in train travel. It is time that the various Govt > functionaries pull up their socks and take the trouble of understanding > disability and become more precise in their expression so that Govt orders, > circulars are clear and not left to interpretation by the baboos. > > Further the use of the term "Physically Handicapped" by the Hon'ble Railway > Minister is a clear reflection of the fact that we have not really covered > much ground as far as the Govt is concerned. They in their ignorance > continue to give ambiguous orders. I am not complaining, just underscoring > a > point. Regards, > > George > > Regards, > > George > . > > > > > > ----- Original Message ----- From: "BHAWANI SHANKAR VERMA" < > [email protected]> > To: "access india" <[email protected]> > Cc: "say every thing" <[email protected]> > Sent: Saturday, February 26, 2011 7:50 AM > Subject: [AI] CONCESSIONS PROPOSED ON RAIL BUDGET > > > dear friends, >> >> here is the text copied from the rail budget 2011-12 regarding >> concessions: >> i will upload the entire rail budget on sendspace and inform you all. >> >> Concessions >> >> 86. At present physically handicapped persons are not entitled for >> >> concessions on Rajdhani and Shatabdi trains. It is proposed to extend the >> >> concession facility to them in these trains also. >> >> 87. Press correspondents are now entitled to avail 50% concession with >> >> family once in a year. It is proposed to increase this facility to twice a >> year. >> >> 88. It is proposed to extend the facility to the Kirti and Shaurya Chakra >> >> awardees of travelling in Rajdhani and Shatabdi trains. >> >> >> 89. In case of unmarried posthumous Param Vir Chakra and Ashok >> >> Chakra gallantry award winners of armed forces, it is proposed to extend >> the >> >> facility of card passes to the parents. >> >> 90. At present the concession for senior citizens is extended to both men >> and >> >> women at 60 years of age. I propose to reduce this in case of women to 58 >> >> years. I also do not want to annoy the men, and therefore, propose to >> increase >> >> their concession from 30% to 40%.~ >> Get numbers right this time, help the census with correct disability info! >> Question 9 relates to disability. >> > > > Get numbers right this time, help the census with correct disability info! > Question 9 relates to disability. > Get numbers right this time, help the census with correct disability info! Question 9 relates to disability.
