Hello It seems all air carriers got a fit to go bananas. Harish Kotian
From: mailman-boun...@server2.ultrahost.us [mailto:mailman-boun...@server2.ultrahost.us] On Behalf Of National Platform For The Rights of the Disabled (NPRD) Sent: 01 March 2012 14:37 To: National Platform For The Rights of the Disabled Delhi Subject: Fw: Another episode of harassment with Airlines: Air India For your information Forwarding a mail from Anjlee Agarwal. Again humiliated. Again traumatised. This time it is State carrier, Air India. Muralidharan Assistant Convener National Platform for the Rights of the Disabled 9868768543 ---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: samarthyam <samarthyain...@yahoo.com<mailto:samarthyain...@yahoo.com>> Date: Thu, Mar 1, 2012 at 1:43 PM Subject: Fw: Another episode of harassment with Airlines: Air India To: nprd...@gmail.com<mailto:nprd...@gmail.com> Dear Murli, For your information and immediate circultaion please: I have just come back from Delhi- Goa -flight Air India (AI 660 dt. 29 Feb 2012) and have experienced similar humiliating instance as with the Jet Airways during my Raipur visit. At Bombay (transit from Goa), I requested the Air India crew to get me an aisle chair while de-boarding at the T3 New Delhi airport. At Delhi airport, I waited for 20 minutes and finally after lot of hue and cry, I got to see a luggage trolley for transferring from the aircraft seat. Attached, herewith are the pics of how I was carried in a luggage trolley/chair (only two wheels were there instead of four and there was no armrest), as there was no aisle chair available at T3 New Delhi "the so called world class airport". I was not able to balance myself on the narrow seat, my feet were dangling and I was shouting for another aisle chair to be given to me while carried to the aircraft gate. I not only lost my balance several times, as I have limb girdle muscular dystrophy, but also felt extremely embarrassed and insulted while 12-13 persons (both the crew and ground staff) looked at me with pity! I was transferred again in another wheelchair at the aircraft gate. After reaching the conveyer belt (luggage belt), I got my wheelchair where I was transferred to my own wheelchair. Fourth time I was transferred in the taxi. I think it's quite obvious that it was not only strenuous from me, but also for my personal care attendant. Pl see the photo of the luggage trolley (attached herewith) also which is used by loaders/porters. The aisle chair which was given to me for transfer from the aircraft is similar! Two wheels only and no arm rest. In short it was very exhausting, disgraceful, scary and unsafe! Still, people with disabilities are seen as luggage and they are discriminated. The trauma and humiliation we face not only demoralize us, but also force us to take serious action against the airlines. I, Anjlee Agarwal, Access Consultant and Executive Director, Samarthyam want to appeal to the entire disability sector to work together to reinforce -training and amendment of DG CAR alongside the recommendations given below: 1. We will continue the fight, till the DG Civil Aviation comes up with solid recommendations and take immediate action against all airlines who are insulting disabled passengers and violating the policy rules. 2. We want training of all ground staff, pilot and crew for transferring and handling persons with disabilities. 3. Take immediate action against the airlines: suspension of the staff that are humiliating and insulting persons with disabilities. 4. Airlines to pay heavy penalty for their rude behavior. 5. People with disabilities WILL NOT SIGN INDEMNITY BOND. 6. Availability of aisle chairs right in the aircraft for wheelchair passengers. 7. Wheelchair users i.e. persons with disabilities SHOULD be allotted front & aisle seat, if requested. 8. Extensive media coverage for sensitization of all airlines. Thanks for all your support. Anjlee Agarwal Executive Director & Access Consultant SAMARTHYAM National Centre for Accessible Environments A project of Samarthyam Trust (Regd. No. 35922) * B-181, Mansarovar Garden, New Delhi-110015, India * Telefax: +91-11-41019389 (M) +91-9810558321 * Email: samarthyain...@yahoo.com<http://au.mc1606.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=samarthyain...@yahoo.com> * Website: www.samarthyam.org<http://www.samarthyam.org/> * Blog: http://samarthyaindia.blogspot.com<http://samarthyaindia.blogspot.com/> Universal Design | Architectural Access | Research | Training | Adaptive Design LET'S MAKE THE WORLD ACCESSIBLE ________________________________ Notice: This email and any files transmitted with it are confidential and intended solely for the use of the individual or entity to whom they are addressed. If you are not the intended recipient, any dissemination, use, review, distribution, printing or copying of the information contained in this e-mail message and/or attachments to it are strictly prohibited. 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