The following news appearing in today's newspaper tells altogether a
different story.
Read on..
Mumbai: Number of unauthorised travellers in coaches for the disabled up by
18%
Monday, Dec 23, 2013, 10:46 IST | Place: Mumbai | Agency: DNA
Dayanand Kamath
Despite stern action by the Railway Protection Force (RPF), the number of
unauthorised persons travelling in coaches specially reserved for the
handicapped on Mumbai suburban (Central and Western) railways has gone up by
18 per cent in 2013 as compared to 2012.
The figures provided by the RPF showed that in 2013, they have arrested
43,349 people for traveling in disabled coaches and had collected a total
fine of Rs1.62 crore from the offenders. In 2012, the RPF had booked 36,798
people and the railway court had recovered a total fine of Rs91 lakh from
them. This means, the RPF have arrested 6551 more offenders in the current
year as compared to the previous year.
At the same time, the court sent 160 offenders to jail in 2013 for not
paying the fine whereas in 2012, as many as 130 offenders were sent to jail.
Jeetendra Karelia, president of Advocacy Group of India, said, "To curb this
menace, the Railway Board should increase the fine amount from Rs500 to
Rs2000." Karelia said that he had written to the Railway Board and both the
general managers of CR and WR in June 2013 with a request to hike the fine
amount.
Karelia also observed that many personnel of Mumbai police in mufti travel
in coaches reserved for the disabled and bully those handicapped commuters,
who object to their presence. The RPF must take stern action against these
cops who illegally travel in coaches meant for handicapped commuters, he
demanded.
The activist also said that often women, who are only one or two months
pregnant, travel in the coaches for disabled with their husband or relative
for their comfort. He said a pregnant womn must carry a certificate from a
government hospital, showing that her she pregnancy is in the advance stage.
The railway authority should check such certificates, he added.
Rajendra Rupnavar, senior divisional security commissioner, RPF, WR, said,
"We have been conducting drives against unauthorised persons traveling in
coaches reserved for the disabled."
He added that their aim was to educate and create awareness among the
physically fit commuters.
Sponsored ContentSponsored ContentPromoted ContentPromoted Content
We RecommendFrom The Web
Rediff.com3 Ways to Look Like Aamir Khan in Dhoom 3Rediff.comBloombergMost
Dangerous Tech CompaniesBloombergNewsmax HealthHeart Attack: How Your Body
Warns You Days BeforeNewsmax HealthSquare MileThe Most Unique Yachts You've
Ever SeenSquare MileLivemintHarvard yoga scientists find proof of meditation
benefitLivemint
CNBCThe world's best cities for young peopleCNBC
ftbproThe 7 Worst Dives in Footballftbpro
05:0905:09SandFantasyYou Won't Believe How This Woman Makes ArtSandFantasy
DogVacayWhen You Go On Vacation, Where Does Your Dog Go?DogVacay
01:2901:29Verizon FiOS YouTubeFiOS Rated Fastest InternetVerizon FiOS
YouTube
HGTV FrontDoorTour Will Smith's Former New York City Home for SaleHGTV
FrontDoor
CraftsyCreate beautiful cakes with CraftsyCraftsyby Taboolaby TaboolaFrom
The WebFrom DNA India.Heart Attack: How You. (Newsmax Health)(Newsmax
Health).3 Exclusive Wedding Gifts Tha. (Rediff.com)(Rediff.com).
----- Original Message -----
From: "payal jethra" <payal.jet...@gmail.com>
To: <accessindia@accessindia.org.in>
Sent: Sunday, December 22, 2013 1:27 PM
Subject: [AI] Checking of Proof of Disability in the handicap compartment on
the Western Line
Hello Friends,
Wanted to share with you all an experience of travelling on the
Western Railway on Saturday afternoon. While travelling on a partially
crowded handicap coach from Malad to Vile Parle around half past noon
yesterday, I noticed a TC step into the compartment at Andheri. He
sounded like a man of authority and spoke in fluent English and Hindi.
He loudly announced that non-handicap commuters would have to
immediately get off the train at the next station.
While pacing around, he began to ask some commuters to produce their
Disability Certificate. He took to task a man who was accompanying an
orthopeadically handicap passenger and said that the man ought to be
travelling in the general compartment while only his physically
challenged friend would be allowed to board this coach.
When Vile Parle approached, the TC got off the train with the escort
of the physically challenged man and two other women whom he had asked
for proof of disability. I saw him stand at one corner of a tea stall
talking with them as I proceeded to search my way.
This may have come as an after effect of all the effort put into
writing to and following up with Railway Authorities. However, it sure
seems like the beginning of a break through with Indian Railway.
Thanks to all our friends who have brought about awareness and
persisted in opening the eyes of the Railway Authorities about
inconveniences caused to us while travelling in handicap compartments.
Probably, this tells us that there is light at the end of this tunnel.
If the Railway staff do take up this matter seriously and keep up the
supervision and check during peak hours as well, commuting by the
handicap coach may soon be a pleasant experience for all of us.
Regards,
Payal Jethra
Phone: 7303448295
"Success is the combination of Belief and Time: the more Belief you
have, the less Time it takes."
Register at the dedicated AccessIndia list for discussing accessibility of
mobile phones / Tabs on:
http://mail.accessindia.org.in/mailman/listinfo/mobile.accessindia_accessindia.org.in
Search for old postings at:
http://www.mail-archive.com/accessindia@accessindia.org.in/
To unsubscribe send a message to
accessindia-requ...@accessindia.org.in
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
Disclaimer:
1. Contents of the mails, factual, or otherwise, reflect the thinking of
the person sending the mail and AI in no way relates itself to its
veracity;
2. AI cannot be held liable for any commission/omission based on the mails
sent through this mailing list..
Time to meet up again!
Register for AccessIndia Convention 2014:
http://accessindia.org.in/harish/convention.htm
Register at the dedicated AccessIndia list for discussing accessibility of
mobile phones / Tabs on:
http://mail.accessindia.org.in/mailman/listinfo/mobile.accessindia_accessindia.org.in
Search for old postings at:
http://www.mail-archive.com/accessindia@accessindia.org.in/
To unsubscribe send a message to
accessindia-requ...@accessindia.org.in
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
Disclaimer:
1. Contents of the mails, factual, or otherwise, reflect the thinking of the
person sending the mail and AI in no way relates itself to its veracity;
2. AI cannot be held liable for any commission/omission based on the mails sent
through this mailing list..
