now i think we are strongly in need of anna hazare in our comunity. On 5/25/11, manoj cherian <[email protected]> wrote: > On 5/25/11, Sathiyaprakash Ramdoss <[email protected]> wrote: >> Hmm!Discrimination instances against disabled by airlines keep >> accumulating in India? >> Few instances from the past- >> Example-1: Taken from- >> http://www.dnis.org/news.php?issue_id=13&volume_id=3&news_id=464&i=7 >> >> Ali, 26, with locomotor disability, booked a ticket on Indian Airlines >> and was placed on the waiting list. For nearly a month he was on the >> waitlist no. 1, without getting a confirmed seat. >> He has alleged that it was not a case of excess booking with Indian >> Airlines (as several persons who had booked tickets after him were >> given confirmed status), but because he booked his ticket under the >> category of disabled persons. >> Indian Airlines issues ‘M’ category tickets at concessional rates to >> visually impaired people and people with locomotor disability of 80 >> per cent and above. Ali claims that the practice of the company is to >> issue only waitlisted tickets to disabled persons, regardless of how >> well in advance they may have booked the tickets, and not confirm them >> until the time of departure so as to accommodate passengers paying the >> full fare. >> As per the Persons with Disabilities Act, 1995, as also directions of >> the Supreme Court of India, Indian Airlines, as a state-owned carrier, >> is under legal obligation to pursue disabled-friendly policies. >> Through his counsel S. S. Dey, Arman Ali filed a writ petition praying >> for non-discrimination by Indian Airlines in issuing ‘M’ class >> tickets, and further direction to the airline for giving confirmed >> ticket on booking by a person with disability on his availing a ticket >> at concession rate solely on the criteria of availability of seats on >> aircraft and not on any other commercial consideration. >> Justice A. Roy, in his order dated 24 June, has issued a show cause >> notice of motion to the Ministry of Civil Aviation as well as the >> Indian Airlines Ltd. asking as to why the prayers of the petitioner >> should not be granted and has fixed the matter for 18 July, for >> further consideration and necessary orders. >> >> >> Example-2: Taken from; >> http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2007-06-20/india/27990719_1_disabled-protest-human-chain-rajiv-rajan >> Disabled protest in Chennai airport against offloading NGO activist >> PTI, Jun 20, 2007, 02.06pm IST >> CHENNAI: About 100 physically challenged persons on Wednesday formed a >> human chain in front of the domestic airport here in protest of >> refusal by a private airline's to allow a cerebral palsy victim to >> board the aircraft without an escort. >> Holding placards, the disabled, most of them in wheelchairs, held a >> peaceful protest by forming the human chain for nearly 90 minutes. >> They demanded equal rights and urged the Government to put an end to >> discrimination against the disabled. >> "We've been facing discrimination from various airlines and Monday's >> incident was the height of it. It not only violated human rights, but >> also the International Civil Aviation rules," said Smitha, Assistant >> Coordinator - Vidyasagar, an NGO which organised the agitation. >> >> Example 3: Taken from; >> http://www.petertan.com/blog/2007/12/20/widespread-discrimination-of-disabled-passengers-by-low-cost-airlines/ >> >> The Hindustan Times news titled Airline Displays Callousness in >> December 19 reported that Sanjiv Sachdeva was asked to sign a bond to >> absolve Jetlite from all responsibilities should anything happen to >> him in a flight on December 16. Jetlite is an India-based low cost >> carrier. Sanjiv has filed a complaint with the Directorate General of >> Aviation and the Commissioner of Diabilities. >> In the same newspaper report, another wheelchair user Mahesh >> Chandrashekar was subjected to similar conditions by Deccan, India’s >> first low-fare airline. Mahesh was reported to have said that the >> language used in the indemnity form sounded prejudiced, embarrassing, >> derogatory and appeared as if a favour has been doled out to a >> passenger with disability who is travelling on a fully-paid ticket. >> Indemnity forms are worded in such a way that the person who signed it >> absolves the airline from all blame should anything happen. Too bad if >> that person dies or is injured as a result of flying with the airline. >> To add insult to injury, if the airline has to incur additional costs >> because of that person, the said person has to bear all that. Tell me, >> where is justice in that? Heads I lose. Tails also I lose. Mana boleh? >> Unbelievable? Go read the indemnity form that Airsia made me sign. >> >> Shame on you Civil Aviation ministry of India!. Thank You. >> >> Your's Sathiyaprakash >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> On 5/24/11, Madhu Singhal <[email protected]> wrote: >>> Dear Members, >>> I want to share that last year king fisher refused to book my ticket to >>> Bangalore to Delhi. >>> I wrote a letter personally and also from comitioner disabilities office. >>> One fine day they called me over phone and said that sorry for this >>> incident >>> and requesting me please do not force to give in writing. >>> Accept our apology our staf was unaware that blind person can travel >>> alone. >>> I did not persue further.----- Original Message ----- >>> From: "Pradeep banakar" <[email protected]> >>> To: <[email protected]> >>> Cc: <[email protected]>; <[email protected]> >>> Sent: Tuesday, May 24, 2011 4:17 PM >>> Subject: [AI] Kingfisher crew offloads blind woman with kids >>> >>> >>>> Friend of myne forwarded me this information >>>> >>>> http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/topic/article/0gG70zO9fqb0C >>>> >>>> Kindly copy the message and send the email to chair >>>> kingfisher airlines, NHRC, DGCA. >>>> >>>> >>>> Subject: Act immediately >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> Tuesday, May 24, 2011 >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> To: >>>> >>>> The Chair Person, >>>> >>>> King Fisher Airlines >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> Dear Chair Person, >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> Sub-Registering protest for immediate and appropriate action against >>>> guilty crew >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> This is to register our strong protest against the inhuman, cruel and >>>> indecent behaviour of your crew and other airline members shown towards >>>> a >>>> woman with visual impairment and her 2 children. We are shocked and >>>> humiliated by the act and express our serious concern over the matter. >>>> This is the clear case of violation of the provisions enshrined in The >>>> "UN >>>> >>>> Convention on the Rights of Persons with disabilities-2006" where India >>>> has signed and ratified the same; Guidelines issued by DGCA for all >>>> airlines with regard to persons with disabilities in May 2007; Persons >>>> with disabilities Act 1995 and other human rights treaties and >>>> conventions. >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> Disabled community of this country strongly condemns this act with clear >>>> and loud words."Violation or Exclusion of persons with disabilities from >>>> enjoying their human rights on an equal basis with others cannot be >>>> excused any more". We urge you to initiate immediate and appropriate >>>> action against the guilty crew and the parties concerned who are >>>> accountable for this inhuman act. >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> We look forward to hear from you as early as possible about the action >>>> taken against the guilty and measures taken to prevent this kind of acts >>>> in future. >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> For more details on the incident please read below. >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> With warm regards, >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> Victor >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> Kingfisher crew offloads blind woman with kids >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> Airline makes them disembark from flight, leaves them unattended for >>>> nearly an hour and a half as aircraft takes off without them >>>> >>>> A private airline made a blind woman and her two children disembark from >>>> her connecting flight to Goa and left them unattended for nearly an hour >>>> and a half while the plane took off without them. >>>> >>>> Adding insult to injury, the airline's staff allegedly told the woman >>>> that >>>> >>>> she could not travel with two kids because she was blind. >>>> >>>> >>>> Shabnam Mansuri had flown in to Mumbai from Ahmedabad with sons Lukman >>>> (7) >>>> >>>> and 18-month-old Luftaan, and was on her way to Goa when the incident >>>> happened >>>> >>>> Shabnam Mansuri (35) says the experience has made her realise the >>>> fallacy >>>> of thinking that she can be treated like everyone else despite her >>>> handicap. >>>> >>>> On May 10, Mansuri was travelling with her sons Lukman (7) and >>>> 18-month-old Luftaan from Ahmedabad to Goa via Mumbai to meet her >>>> husband. >>>> >>>> Her tickets had been booked with Kingfisher Airlines. >>>> >>>> "I boarded the Kingfisher flight from Ahmedabad and reached Mumbai, from >>>> where I was supposed to take a connecting flight to Goa. >>>> >>>> I had barely taken a seat in the connecting flight around 12.30 pm when >>>> a >>>> crew member came and asked me to follow him. He also asked me to take my >>>> cabin baggage and kids with me. >>>> >>>> Initially, I thought that he must be changing my seat, but realised >>>> something was amiss when he took me down some stairs," said Mansuri. >>>> >>>> "I asked him why he was making me get off the plane but he refused to >>>> answer. When my kids and I got off, they closed the aircraft's doors and >>>> took off, leaving us standing there. >>>> >>>> One attendant told me later that I cannot travel with two kids as I am >>>> blind. I was shocked," she added. She kept telling the attendant that >>>> she >>>> had two young kids and needed to meet her husband in Goa, but to no >>>> avail. >>>> >>>> Finally, close to 2 pm, a staff member came and told her that they would >>>> arrange for her to board a 4.40 pm flight to Goa."I did not want to bank >>>> on them anymore. I called my husband and he arranged for us to board >>>> another airline's 3.10 pm flight. >>>> >>>> My question is, how can they let me travel from Ahmedabad to Mumbai >>>> without any trouble and then say I cannot travel with two kids from >>>> Mumbai >>>> >>>> to Goa? I was travelling on the same airline in both cases," said >>>> Mansuri. >>>> >>>> She said the experience was one of the worst she's had in her life. "I >>>> am >>>> blind but that doesn't mean they have the right to discriminate against >>>> me. >>>> >>>> I had paid the full fare and if they had some problems, they should have >>>> informed me before I boarded. My elder son is so traumatised by the >>>> incident; he says he does not want to fly anymore." >>>> >>>> Husband reacts >>>> Mansuri's husband, Samir, who is the Chairman of Blinds Dream, an NGO, >>>> wrote a letter to the airline to complain about the treatment meted out >>>> to >>>> >>>> her. >>>> >>>> A portion of the letter states, "Kingfisher officials told my wife that >>>> if >>>> >>>> she thought they were cruel, she shouldn't travel with them anymore." >>>> >>>> "What the Kingfisher staff did to my wife is shameful. They had done >>>> something similar with me in 2005 (see box) and I will not let them get >>>> away this time. >>>> >>>> >>>> Flight tickets of Shabnam Mansuri and her two sons Lukman and Luftaan >>>> >>>> They have replied to my letter but that is not enough. I will take this >>>> issue to the consumer court and will go to the Supreme Court if need be. >>>> >>>> This is an insult to me and my family and I will not tolerate it under >>>> any >>>> >>>> circumstances," said Samir. >>>> >>>> He alleged that he had come to know that his wife was made to disembark >>>> because of a VIP booking at the last moment, which led to the flight >>>> being >>>> >>>> overbooked. >>>> >>>> "If their company cannot handle blind people, they should declare that >>>> visually challenged people are not allowed to fly Kingfisher," he added. >>>> >>>> The Other Side >>>> When MiD DAY contacted Kingfisher Airlines, they said they regretted the >>>> incident. Prakash Mirpuri, vice-president, corporate communications, >>>> Kingfisher Airlines Limited, said, "We are investigating the matter. >>>> >>>> In the meantime, we would like to convey our deep regret for the >>>> inconvenience that may have been caused inadvertently to our valued >>>> guests." >>>> >>>> Earlier too >>>> Dr Samir Mansuri, Shabnam's husband and a celebrity doctor who is also >>>> blind, had allegedly been insulted by Kingfisher Airlines in 2005 as >>>> well. >>>> >>>> According to Samir, he was travelling from Mumbai to Ahmedabad that >>>> year. >>>> >>>> "I was first in the queue to board the flight, but I was made to wait >>>> till >>>> >>>> all the other passengers boarded. When I went inside, they forced me to >>>> visit a washroom outside the aircraft even when I did not want to go. >>>> >>>> They said they were doing that so I would't have to visit the airplane's >>>> loo when we were airborne. The crew told me that they could not allow me >>>> to use the aircraft's washroom as I am blind and there were female crew >>>> members on board," said Samir. >>>> >>>> "I felt insulted and raised the issue in the media. Vijay Mallya then >>>> issued an apology for the indecent behaviour on the airline's part," he >>>> added. >>>> --- >>>> >>>> IF we not part of the solution then we are part of the problem >>>> With Regards >>>> Pradeep T.S >>>> SyndicateBank >>>> Information Technology Cell >>>> Regional Office Bangalore >>>> Mobile: 9845925188 >>>> email: [email protected] >>>> skype: pradeepsocialwork >>>> Search for old postings at: >>>> http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/ >>>> >>>> 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 >>>> >>> >>> >>> Search for old postings at: >>> http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/ >>> >>> 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 >>> >>> >> >> Search for old postings at: >> http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/ >> >> 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 >> >> > > Search for old postings at: > http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/ > > 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 > >
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