Dear Subramani
Sure, why not.
Harish.
----- Original Message -----
From: "Subramani L" <lsubram...@deccanherald.co.in>
To: <accessindia@accessindia.org.in>
Sent: Wednesday, February 10, 2010 6:26 PM
Subject: Re: [AI] Draft petition to the railwayMinister
Dear Harish:
The letter covers all major elements and concerns of blind and visually
impaired passengers. Just a loud thought... If this is not accepted by
the railway minister, shouldn't we submit this to the court as a public
interest litigation drawing the esteemed minister to the docks?
Subramani
-----Original Message-----
From: accessindia-boun...@accessindia.org.in
[mailto:accessindia-boun...@accessindia.org.in] On Behalf Of Kotian, H P
Sent: Wednesday, February 10, 2010 1:03 PM
To: accessindia@accessindia.org.in
Subject: [AI] Draft petition to the railwayMinister
Hello All
Placed below is the draft petition which we shall be sending to the
railway minister. If there is any omission pl let us know by feb 11.
Let me clarify, we have only mentioned visually disabled as we believe
we should speak for that sectorfor which we are qualified to do so.
Otherwise it would be speaking "for" them and we would be committing the
same error for which we find uncomfortable when others tend to do for us
the blind.
We shall fully support the endeavor from the other segment of the
disabled. We shall also include in this petition if it comes from those
persons or representative organizations.
Pl read on
Warmly
Harish Kotian
Honorable Minister for Railways
Respected Madam
Accessibility policy in the railway budget
On behalf of the blind community and disability community at large, we
request you to include an accessibility policy while presenting the
forthcoming railway budget.
Justification: A large number of disabled passengers avail the services
of the railways and find the services to be unfriendly and not meeting
the minimum accessibility requirements under the law. This has resulted
in needless hardship and accidents which could have been easily avoided.
This Grimm outlook however, can be reversed with an effective,
comprehensive accessibility policy.
Scope: It should touch all services rendered by the railways and should
not only cover the passengers but should also extend to all disabled
employees. We would like the railways to also be the largest equal
opportunity employer.
Problems faced by blind passengers and solutions:
Problem: The ticket clerks often are unwilling to issue concessional
tickets despite possessing valid concession certificates.
Solution: proper awareness training be imparted and the practice of
deducting the differential amount in case of erroneous concession ticket
from the salary of the concerned clerk be done away with. Only a penalty
be imposed.
Problem: Concessional tickets cannot be booked on the online portal.
Solution: e booking of concession tickets be introduced either by
creating facilities for uploading scanned copy of disability certificate
and verifying it during journey, or by requiring one-time registration
of all disability certificates in a centralized database at
the time of booking first e ticket by a disabled passenger.
Problem: Many accidents are caused by blind persons falling to the
tracks from the platform.
Solution: This can be avoided if tactile markings are made on the edges
of the platforms. Similar tactile marking should be made on the platform
to guide blind persons to lead to the exit, bridges, ticketing counters,
coach for the disabled etc. The tactile markings should also be painted
with high contrast color for low vision persons.
Problem: Accidents are also caused by blind persons slipping into the
space between compartments.
Solution: This gap should be filled up appropriately.
Problem: There is general lack of information, not only to disabled
passengers but also to all passengers about approaching station, time of
arrival there etc.
Solution: There should be internal announcement announcing the direction
and the name of the approaching station.
Problem: The status of disabled or handicapped coach is far from clear.
On one hand, it is meant for disabled travelers with general tickets and
on the other hand, nowadays, reservations in Handicapped quota are being
allotted in handicapped coach. Further, there is always confusion
regarding whether a particular train does have handicapped coach and if
yes, where it is exactly located, whether in the front or at back. This
requires disabled passengers to run helter-skelter for locating it,
defeating the very purpose of such a coach. Further, more often than
not, it is occupied by able bodied unauthorized passengers and is not
vestibuled rendering seeking any assistance by disabled passengers from
RPF or ticket checking staff extremely difficult.
Solution: Handicapped coach be clearly designated for travelers with
disabilities and their escorts with general ordinary tickets and
reservations in handicapped quota berths be given in the sleeper coach
as was being done earlier. This would fulfill the purpose of the
handicapped coach in the true sense of the term. All the coaches in the
train and
toilets in them be made disabled friendly.
The handicapped coach be vestibuled and placed approximately in the
middle of the train, to avoid difficulties in locating it and also from
safety point of view, as assistance can be readily sought by disabled
passengers in case of unauthorized occupancy and such passengers shifted
to adjacent coaches, or in case of any emergency.
There should be a facilitation counter to help senior citizens, patients
and disabled passengers
Such an accessibility policy should invariably have definite funds
allocated to it and must have specified targets to be achieved in the
year.
There should be a theme based annual accessibility audit. Its findings
should be posted at the railway's portal.
There should be a statement on accessibility in every railway budget.
Benefit: It would not only help the disabled, but would be generally
useful to all passengers. It would also be conforming to international
treaties and best practices.
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