Hi Shampa, I would like to point out that 50% concession is admiscible to intelectually challenged under the list of concessions as available on the official Indian railways website-they have specially mentioned 50% concession for "mentally retarded" persons. The circumstances under which you were denied concession might be different.
Regards, -Kartik On 2/26/11, Sruti disAbility Rights Centre <[email protected]> wrote: > 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. > Get numbers right this time, help the census with correct disability info! Question 9 relates to disability.
