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Ms. Sminu Jindal exhorts Young Indians to work for accessibility at CII- Yi Summit TakePride-2018, Mumbai

10 March 2018, Mumbai

Svayam’s Founder-Chairperson Ms. Sminu Jindal today addressed the CII-Yi: Annual Youth Summit – TakePride 2018, held at the historic Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) in Mumbai, along with several visionary speakers fromMs. Sminu Jindal, Founder Svayam addressing CII-Yi: Annual Youth Summit – TakePride 2018, Mumbai across the sectors who spoke during the two-day annual event during 09-10 March 2018. These included Kamal Haasan (actor), Ajeet Khurana (Head – Blockchain & Cryptocurrency Committee of India), Anand Piramal (Founder – Piramal Realty), Arnav Ghosh (CEO – India, Blippar), Ashish Chauhan, (MD & CEO Bombay Stock Exchange), Balki R, (Filmmaker), Boman Irani (actor), Chandrajit Banerjee (Director General CII), Dia Mirza (actor), Dr. R. Mashelkar (renowned Scientist – Padma Shri, Padma Bhushan & Padma Vibhushan Honouree), Gauri Shinde (filmmaker), Krishnakumar T (President – Coca Cola India & Southwest Asia), Lavanya Nalli (Chairperson – Nalli Group), Madhukeshwar Desai (Vice President – Youth Wing Of BJP), Mickey Mehta (Celebrity Fitness Guru & Coach To Femina Miss India Pageant), Radhanath Swami (Spiritual Teacher), Suresh Narayanan (CMD – Nestle India).

The Young Indians (Yi), the annual flagship leadership Summit by the Confederation of Indian Industries (CII) is known to celebrate the achievements of entrepreneurs, inspire young entrepreneurs, and mull over the future roadmap. TakePride offers a platform to both sung and unsung heroes/champions who share an inspiring story and leave food for thought for the young leaders of CII-Yi eventually both in the interest of the organization as well as their personal- professional trajectory.

Ms. Jindal spoke at length on the subject close to her heart – accessibility. Around 600 Young Indians (Yi) from 40 Chapters across 27 states listened to her address that touched on her early years after car accident, her struggles in the men-dominated steel and gas industry, and her initiative Svayam and its numerous achievements in making India accessible.

Talking about her accident, she said: “I met with a car accident at the age of 11 as my driver was drunk; I became a wheelchair user for the rest of my life due to severe spinal injury. Initially, I could not cope with what had happened with me at that tender age. I was gloomy as I could not dance anymore, though my parents ensured I lived a normal life and got best education. They got ramps and lifts built at home and school and the college. I was born in an affluent family, but then I thought what about others who do not have resources. That is how accessibility became my passion as I wanted to see everyone with reduced mobility to live his/her life in safe, dignified and productive way.”

She told the highly attentive audience that accessibility benefits everyone and not just persons with disabilities. “Think about an elderly, a pregnant woman, and an injured. We have to accept the reality and be ready for it. Think about arthritis and accidents. Also, India’s 65 per cent population is below 35; think about 30 years from now. Will they not need accessible infrastructure and services? We have to be ready now before it hits us,” she said.Ms. Sminu Jindal's address to Young Indians at Bombay Stock Exchange

Ms. Jindal added: “People retire at 60, but thanks to the improved healthcare, we have longer years post retirement. Due to lack of accessible infrastructure, people tend to remain in the golden cages called homes. So, this is not about only 2 per cent population (persons with disabilities). It is a much larger issue. If older adults get accessible homes and public infrastructure, they will, of course, come out and shop, visit places which not only increases their own happiness quotient, but also boosts our GDP. This is how we can make them feel useful, else they may feel redundant. We are all social animals & can’t live in silos.”

She wondered why accessibility is treated as a sub topic under disability. She narrated the infamous Jet Airways incidence of December 2007 when she was asked to sign an indemnity bond. The signing would have absolved the airliner from all the responsibilities. She had refused to sign the bond and later the airliner had to issue a public apology to her.
Ms. Jindal also strongly raised the issue of lack of accessible toilet in the aircrafts. “These airlines can have first class cabin and luxurious showering room, but not an accessible toilet! Imagine holding your bladder for 6-10 hours in a long-haul flight,” she wondered.

Svayam’s Founder told the young audience how Svayam helped the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) to make the first ever World Heritage Site of Qutub Minar accessible, followed by other WHS such as the Taj Mahal, Red Fort and Fatehpur Sikri Group of Monuments. “The footprints increased phenomenally after these monuments were made accessible,” she said.

She also talked about Svayam’s contribution in 2011 Census’ campaign – “Stand Up and Be Counted”. It was the clarion call for persons with disabilities to have themselves enumerated in the final round of the 2011 Census. Svayam raised awareness, so that families did remember to answer question No. 9 – the question framed to gather information about number and categories of disabilities. During the campaign, Ms. Jindal had said that by hiding, person with disabilities deny themselves the right to be citizens and deny the government an opportunity to plan for their empowerment.

Ms. Jindal said, “There is no shame in having a disability. You may have a disability; still, you can be glamourous and pursue your passion as usual.”

She also said that the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016 has increased number of disabilities from 7 to 21. “This increases the importance of accessibility in built environment.”

Ms. Jindal also talked about Svayam’s international presence. In 2012, the Transport Research Board’s (TRB) Standing Committee on Accessible Transportation and Mobility (ABE60) agreed to establish the Permanent Secretariat of the Triennial TRANSED Series of conferences to be run by Svayam as its sole contribution to the promotion of mobility and transportation for the elderly and the disabled people.

She also talked about small little changes which can make big differences in the lives of people with reduced mobility, such as a proper ramp gradient, wider doors, ‘but most importantly an open heart!’

“If I can, you can, and together, we can,” Ms. Sminu Jindal exhorted the young audience to work for accessibility now for their own better tomorrow.

Young Indians (Yi) Tweeted:

 

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Delhi’s Railway Stations continue to defy the Disability Act – remains inaccessible to disabled

Dear Friends,

The Indian Railways has been continuously disregarding the access rights of persons with disabilities and the elderly and has not set its house in order even after nearly two decades of the passage of the Disabilities Act.

Svayam has been advocating that the platforms need to be connected by both- the dynamic measures such as lifts and elevators but also non-dynamic features such as ramps. For Eg. the platforms are interconnected by big ramps at Agra railway stations. The stations in the capital — even the New Delhi Railway Station does not have that interconnectivity. One has to travel through the passage used by luggage vans which goes across the railway tracks.

Svayam also raised the issue of non-implementation of basic design. For instance, the tactile blocks that guide the visually impaired run into walls, railings etc. Also, the descent to the platform from the escalator is marked by a step without a warning tactile block. And there is no accessibility for the hearing and visually impaired persons.

During the Railway Budget of 2013, Svayam has shared the issues in detail with the Railway ministry. However, the ministry has been sitting quite in complete defiance of the law of the land. See a related news in TOI dated 27 Feb 2013 titled Rail Budget 2013: Disabled say there are many hurdles in the way.

Here is the media coverage in TOI today.

Delhi’s railway stations test elderly, disabled

Suhas Munshi,TNN | May 14, 2014, 01.32 AM IST

NEW DELHI: For the city’s elderly and the infirm, train journeys begin with pain and humiliation-at the railway station. In the absence of ramps or lifts, those incapable of walking have to be carried up foot overbridges on way to the platform in the arms of their kin or wheeled through routes meant for transportation of goods. Over the years, say the elderly, this debasing experience hasn’t changed.

At the New Delhi railway station, for instance, 60-year-old Tara Devi, who suffers from joint pains, waited on her walker for half-hour in the hot son as her son went hunting for a wheelchair. Sunheri Devi, 73, had a similar agonizing experience, being carried in his arms by her son to the platform.

“My mother lost a leg recently. Besides, she is too old to walk up the stairs. So, I carried her to the platform,” said son Om Prakash. Asked if he knew about wheelchairs or golf carts provided by the station for free, Prakash shook his head. The response was similar in most spot interviews TOI conducted of persons with some sort of disability.

Article in Newspaper image format as it appeared in the Times City

Clearly, while railway authorities say they have made arrangements for wheelchairs and golf carts at some stations, most passengers haven’t heard about it yet. Those who have, find it impractical and use it only as a last resort.

Of the major railway stations in Delhi, only Anand Vihar has been designed with a functional ramp to take the wheelchair-bound across the platforms. At Hazrat Nizamuddin, Old Delhi or New Delhi stations, the disabled have to be ferried to the end of a platform where goods are ferried on hand carts, and stand in queue with cart-loaders waiting for passing trains to give way in order to change platforms.

“The platforms are totally unapproachable by senior citizens and it’s about time someone decided to do something about it. It’s really a shame for the national capital to have an unapproachable platform for boarding important trains,” said senior citizen Sudipta Maitra, IBM’s former manager of business operations, who also has a disability.

Dr Satendra Singh, an assistant professor of physiology at GTB hospital, himself afflicted with polio, says the only way to help is to install lifts and reserve escalators for the disabled.

“Railways goes on installing escalators at stations but for someone like me who uses calipers, escalators don’t work because people like me tend to lose balance, as I have in the past. Lifts, reserved for the disabled, as done in the Delhi Metro, would make life so much simpler for us. That’s what I hope gets done some time in the forseeable future,” said Singh.

Old Delhi station happens to have a pair of lifts leading to waiting halls. But both have been in a state of disrepair for the past three years.

“We have been trying to ensure that the journey becomes safe and comfortable for everyone. We have one golf cart and 20 wheelchairs at Old Delhi railway station, one golf cart and five wheelchairs at Nizamuddin station, four golf carts and 20 wheelchairs at New Delhi and four wheelchairs at Anand Vihar. Besides, we have other facilities such as separate queues for elderly,” said a Northern railway spokesperson.

Clearly, the railways has to start making these facilities more accessible and user-friendly.

Source: Times of India

Related You Tube Video of CNN IBN Report

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Svayam hosts side event “Funding Accessible Transport” at ITF 2013

Svayam- National Centre for Inclusive Environments, hosted a side event titled “Funding Accessible Transport” at the Annual Summit of International Transport Forum (ITF) held on 22 May 2013 at Leipzig, Germany.

Background Note

Most of the transport infrastructure to date have been manufactured/ designed without accessible features. The transportation systems in most of the developed countries too, are far from ideal let alone developing nations. Transport plays a crucial role in a nation’s development by providing access to facilities and services.

Enhanced mobility for the vulnerable groups is one of the most important preconditions for achieving sustained growth. The needs of the elderly and disabled should be anticipated in the planning and designing of the transport infrastructure especially in the light of the growing silver population the world over.

To ensure all the transportation systems align with the varied needs of all, there is an urgent need of funding for developing new accessible transport systems as well as retrofitting the existing with the aim of developing accessible, affordable, economically viable, people-oriented and environment-friendly transport systems.

Speakers at the Event

Ms. Abha Negi, Director, Svayam – National Centre for Inclusive Environments, New Delhi, India
Mr. Ramakant Goswami, Hon’ble Minister – Transport, Government of the National Capital Territory of Delhi, India (couldn’t attend)
Ms. Ann Frye, Director, Ann Frye Ltd, UK
Dr. (Ms.) Lalita Sen, Professor, Texas Southern University, USA
Dr. Manoj Singh, Advisor (Transport), Planning Commission of Govt. of India
Ms. Mary Crass, Policy Head, International Transport Forum (Moderator)

Click here for Photos of the event on Facebook

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Chennai Metro will be barrier-free: CMRL

Source: The Hindu
MEERA SRINIVASAN

Chennai: Decision was taken in response to suggestions given by Disability Rights Alliance – Tamil Nadu

Persons with disability will have comfortable access to metro stations and trains, the Chennai Metro Rail Limited (CMRL) said on Saturday.

According to an official of the CMRL, all metro stations will have signage within and outside the station to guide users. A dedicated parking space will be provided to persons with disability, subject to space availability. Non-slippery flooring and well-lit passages will be provided.

INCLUSIVE PATH? Access audits shared by the Disability Rights Alliance with CMRL showed Delhi Metro as having missed out on some crucial aspects in making the service accessible to persons with disability. Chennai Metro, however, has a chance to address the requirements in its upcoming facilities such as this one near the depot in Koyambedu, where tracks are being laid currently. Photo: S. S. Kumar
“We will make sure that the stations enable free movement. Tactile tiles will be provided to help persons with disability access functional areas and platforms,” the official told The Hindu.

The decision to make such provisions comes in response to suggestions made by the Disability Rights Alliance–Tamil Nadu (DRA), which has been in dialogue with the CMRL since January this year. Members had shared details of some best practices, in addition to highlighting the shortcomings in the existing metro network in New Delhi. CMRL had told the DRA that engineers and those involved in finalising the station designs would get back with details of what provisions will be made in the metro stations in Chennai.

The stations will have bumpy tiles to alert users with visual impairment, before nearing the edge of the platform. The toilets will be made accessible, and the ticket counters will be positioned at a convenient height. Induction loops at ticket counters for hearing-impaired passengers, a uniform terminal design, ramps with adequate landing space and staircases with handrails are among the other provisions promised. “The elevators will be accessible, with grip rails on three sides, audio announcements and buttons in Braille.”

The CMRL has also said that wheelchair users and mobility-impaired persons would not require ridging or lifting devices to get into the coaches. Also, a wheelchair egress request signal shall be provided, which will enable a passenger in any car of a metro train to alert the operator to stop the car for a prolonged time to enable wheelchair users to get off the train.

The provisions, according to CMRL, are in compliance with the ‘Guidelines and Space standards for Barrier Free Built Environment for Disabled and Elderly Persons’ evolved by the Ministry of Urban Development.

Members of DRA-TN said while the provisions were considerate, it would be important for the CMRL to supplement the guidelines with recommendations in the manual for standards and specifications for railway stations – June 2009, a Railway Board reference document, because the guidelines issued by the Ministry were not been updated after 1998.

Vaishnavi Jayakumar, a DRA member, said: “Also, in the absence of an in-house accessibility consultant, the CMRL could share its plans with an access consultant for comments.”

Rajiv Rajan, another member, said it arrangements for emergencies should also be made known. “Will the CMRL train its staff to deal with passengers with disability? That is vital,” he said. Acknowledging the provisions as a “good start”, DRA members said Chennai metro can be considered truly progressive and sensitive when it takes into account more such factors.

Ms. Jayakumar said: “It would be really nice when persons with disability can find out about the provisions being made for them, when the CMRL website itself is made accessible to them.”

Source: The Hindu

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Persons with Disabilities do not want special coaches

Dear Colleagues,

We all have been witness to the vulnerability of travelers with disabilities in secluded Railways Coaches for the Disabled as well as the chaos and disorderliness in these coaches. I had myself been witness to few such incidents. Thus we feel, it would not be in the fitness of things to continue pushing for special coaches for the disabled; we have heard attendants being pushed out saying that they are non-disabled and hence should travel in other compartments; we have seen highhandedness of Railway Protection Force officials, Police and paramilitary officials forcefully gaining entry in to special coaches for the disabled and even pushing non-disabled passengers in the special coaches after charging some amount!

We have also heard incidents of visually impaired passengers being allotted special coach, who otherwise can travel in any of the general coaches! On top of it, the coach being touted as “Coach for the Disabled” has no provision of ramp or level entry hence is literally inaccessible.

The Persons with Disabilities Act mandates making the railways barrier free and not creating secluded special coaches. The objective is to mainstream rather than excluding them.  Therefore, if persons with disabilities of this country are rejecting this announcement, it should be respected.

Persons with Disabilities are opposing creation of special coaches for the disabled in the Indian Railways since they feel more vulnerable and threatened in these secluded coaches.
The special coach for disabled is a joke played on 70 millions disabled people of India! The coach is neither accessible nor safe for people and is often added either close to Engine or at the tail of train!

Differently abled don’t want special coaches: The Hindu

The announcement by Railway Minister Dinesh Trivedi on Wednesday on provision of special coaches for the differently abled people has not found favour with a section of them.

“We expect the government to have a universal design for coaches, which would be accessible for all with furnished washrooms, considering the needs of the differently abled people,” said Sminu Jindal, managing director of Jindal Saw and the chairperson of Svayam, a charitable trust for differently abled people. Ms. Jindal is herself a differently abled person.

Discrimination

“We have been working hard to provide equality and dignity to all, including the elderly and the disabled, and this step goes in the opposite direction discriminating the disabled from the rest. This renders the community more vulnerable, as it does not allow [their] joining the mainstream and restricts them from travelling on general coaches,” she said

Further, the plan to build escalators would not help the differently abled, she said and requested the Minister to provide for ramps and elevators which would help everyone.

http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/article2995796.ece

Coverage in Deccan Chronicle

“The announcement on introduction of special coaches for disabled friendly is not a welcome step. We expect the government to have a universal design/coaches which would be accessible for all with furnished accessible washrooms, considering the needs for differently abled people… This step goes in the opposite direction which discriminates the disabled from the rest. This is more vulnerable for the community, as it does not allow mainstreaming and restricts disabled from travelling on general coaches,” said chairperson Sminu Jindal, Svayam, an initiative of Sminu Jindal Charitable Trust.

“Announcement of building escalators, will not come in aid of differently-abled people. We would request the minister to alongside build ramps and elevators which would help all,” she said.

source: http://www.deccanchronicle.com/channels/nation/north/special-facilities-differently-abled-360

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Indian Social Justice Minister wants provision of ramps to board all aircrafts

Dear Colleagues,

Several things in India, including the access rights of disabled are so routinely denied that many have just stopped even questioning them. Be it non availability of para transit systems to reach the nearest accessible bus shelter/city bus service/ accessible Metro or inaccessibility of the Platforms/ compartments etc of Indian Railways.

The law that requires access at all public places including the modes of transports is almost 16 years old, but doesn’t seem to bother the airline operators (despite the Civil Aviation Requirements on carriage of persons with reduced mobility binding on them!) nor the Indian Railways which faces several Public Interest Litigation Petitions in various High Courts. The most recent being heard in the Mumbai High Court that is hearing a matter on inaccessibility of Railway platforms and Coaches that was widely covered by media. Click here to look at what the Honorable  Court had to say on the same.

Now our Hon’ble Minister for Social Justice realizes that even the airline operators are routinely defying the law and had to take this initiative. We commend it and hope the Minister, Civil Aviation takes the right steps to “Let the Law Prevail”!

Make ramps compulsory in all airlines, demands Social Justice Minister

NEW DELHI: Union social justice minister Mukul Wasnik has asked civil aviation minister Ajit Singh to make ramps compulsory in all airlines to facilitate boarding by physically challenged persons.

The request, in a letter to Singh, came after Wasnik saw a person lifting a disabled to help him board the plane because there was no ramp to help the wheelchair. The minister also expressed concern at the insufficient availability of Ambulifts in airports.

Wasnik asked Singh to advise all airline operators to provide access to their aircraft through ramps instead of stairs. The Persons with Disabilities Act requires the air transport sector to adopt measures to ease the access to the disabled to aircrafts, airports and toilets.

The absence of Ambulifts in most airports makes the operators provide stairs for passengers to embark, requiring those on wheelchairs to be physically lifted.

Source: Times of India

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India approves Metro rail for small cities | iGovernment.in

India approves Metro rail for small cities | iGovernment.in.

New Delhi: The environment- and commuter-friendly metro rail will soon run in Indian cities having a population of more than 2 million with the government approving the ambitious project.

“We will be looking at the Detailed Project Reports (DPRs) for metro rails in the cities which have a population of more than 2 million,” Urban Development Minister Kamal Nath said at a press conference here.

The DPRs are prepared by the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation and submitted to the other states.

“While respective DPRs have been prepared for Pune, Ludhiana, Ahmedabad and Lucknow, the preparation of reports for Indore, Bhopal and Chandigarh is in process,” Kamal Nath told reporters.

The minister also said that the ministry is in talks with the Maharashtra government for getting a DPR for metro in Nagpur, reports IANS.

The Minister informed that projects for the Kochi and line three of the Mumbai metro will be sent for cabinet approval within the next two weeks.

Kamal Nath said the government will support preparation of DPRs for such a system in the cities across the country, by meeting 50 per cent of the cost.

The minister also said that to promote indigenisation in the field of transport, the government will set up a research and design cell as well as focussing on indigenous procurement.

“We have directed Delhi Metro to procure equipment for its Phase-III project through manufacturing facilities based in the country,” he said.

Kamal Nath also said that a National Urban Rail Transit Authority will also be set up to lay donor technical standards and advise government on various metro rail-related issues.

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Railway Minister promises to address the problems faced by passengers with disabilities in Indian Railways

Dear Readers,

Representatives of 17 organisations working among the disabled in the India, met the Union Railway Minister Shri Dinesh Trivedi on September 28, 2011 to draw attention to the problems faced by passengers with reduced mobility, the elderly in general and those with disabilities in particular, while travelling with the Indian Railways.

 The delegation inter alia demanded extension of e-booking facility for the disabled, extension of concessions on tickets to all categories of disabilities enshrined in the Persons with Disabilities Act, 1995. They also demanded that concessions be provided in local and passenger trains as well, as was being provided in long distance trains.

“I find no reason why it can not be extended to persons with disabilities if it can be conveniently extended to other passengers. In fact, it is the disabled who require it most!”, expressed the Hon’ble Minister.

The members of the delegation pointed out that railway stations continues to be inaccessible despite legal mandate resulting in multiple barriers for persons with reduced mobility in using them. Ramps  were rare and that too limited for entry to the first platform in big stations while there was no access to the other platforms if it were more than two. Ramps lead to the foot over-bridges which can not be climbed by persons with reduced mobility.

It was pointed out to the Minister that the Platforms do not provide accessible entry to the train. The gap (height) between the platform and the coach varies from station to station and there is no provision of ramps. There is not enough space for mobility inside the coaches. Toilets cannot be used by persons with certain disabilities. In this light, they demanded that the railways should set up a task force on access and go in for universal design. They also demanded that battery operated cars now provided at some stations should be made available at all major stations and platforms.

The Hon’ble Minister suggested that they would consider placing a mobile ramp in front of the coach designated for the disabled so that they could conveniently use the coach specially reserved for them in the long distance trains.

The delegation also pointed out that for the past many years the railways have not made recruitment to fill the 3 per cent quota for disabled persons mandated by the PWD Act. In the matter of promotions also, despite court orders, reservations in promotions are not being implemented.  It was also brought out that employees acquiring disability during  their service who are protected under Section 47 of the the Act were silently being accommodated against the minimum 3% reserved employment quota which was against the mandate of the Persons with disabilities Act 1995.  They urged upon the minister to fill the backlog both in employment and promotions without delay and implement the reservation policy as per the mandate of the law.

Mr. Dinesh Trivedi gave a patient hearing to the delegation. He assured the delegation to consider their demands sympathetically. He also stressed the need for the railways being more sensitive to the issues of the disabled.

The delegation was led by Ms.Brinda Karat, CPI(M) Polit Bureau member and ex member of parliament and comprised of Mr. Muralidharan, Assistant Convener of the National Platform for the Rights of the Disabled, Mr. Rajive Raturi of the Human Rights Law Network, Mr. Subhash Chandra Vashishth of Svayam, Mr. Abdool Mabood of Snehi amongst others. They submitted a memorandum to the minister, in which they welcomed the decision to extend concessions to the disabled in Shatabdi and Rajdhani trains. This was one of the demands that was raised with the ministry earlier. However, many other issues continue to remain unaddressed. Some urgent issues mentioned in the memorandum are as follows:

Concessions

 (i)   Extend concession to all trains: The railways have been providing concessions for disabled persons in mail and express trains, which now has been extended to Rajdhani and Shatabdi also. But the concession is not provided in local and passenger trains and the Garib Rath. We request that concessions be provided on these trains also.

(ii)  Validity of disability certificates:  Currently, a separate certificate has to be obtained for availing railway concession. The railways should accept disability certificates or cards as valid proof of the disability of the concerned person and do away with the requirement of a separate certificate.

(iii) Travelling without Escorts: Except for visually impaired persons and the hearing and speech impaired, currently all other disabled persons have to invariably travel with escorts if they have to avail concession. This restricts their right to travel.  All disabled persons who are capable of travelling independently like persons with locomotor disabilities should be allowed to travel with or without escort.

(iv) Concession to mentally disabled persons: People with mental illness are included in the PWD Act but they are not provided concessions in the railways. All those classified as disabled in the PWD Act should be provided concession in the railways.

(v) Concession on tatkal tickets: The usual concession given on other tickets should also be provided for bookings made under tatkal.

E-booking facility

E-booking facility should be extended to the disabled. In fact they require it more than non-disabled persons. As is done in the case of senior citizens, the TTE can verify the proof (disability certificate) during the course of the journey.

Coach for disabled

Most of the time the coach reserved for the disabled is occupied by other non-disabled travellers, railway employees and even RPF personnel in connivance with and often due to lack of proper enforcement. It should be ensured that the coach be placed next to the guard’s coach and a disability sensitive attendant be provided in these coaches to ensure that none other than disabled persons and their escorts are allowed in the reserved coach.

Accessibility

The Persons with Disability Act of 1995 mandates railway stations and coaches to be made barrier free. Its implementation, however, has been disappointing.Tactile marking should be made on the platform to guide blind persons to the exit, bridges, stairs, ticketing counters etc. Tactile markings should also be provided on the edges of the platforms. Platform numbers should be labelled in Braille both at the entry/exit points as well as on the railing of the foot over bridge. Train coaches need to be re-designed to cater to the needs of the disabled persons. 

Sensitizing railway staff

The disabled encounter a lot of problems at railway counters.  There is a need to sensitise all personnel working in the railways, especially those dealing directly with travellers, on issues connected with disability.