Dear Mr. Amjad Ahmed Fitwala, I am thankful to you and all those friends who have express their concern towards the self advocacy of the community for its comprehensive development and appreciated and encouraged the move of NFB Karnataka to this account. My response to all suggestions /questions raised by fellow members is as under 1. As you all would be aware of the fact that the port folio of hon’ble minister has been changed from railway to Law and justice. So we shall have to see, how far this attempt will work? or we shall have to restart it from square 1. However today morning, I checked with local officer of hon’ble minister and found that the representation has already been forwarded to the ministry. 2. Our meeting with railway minister was not pre scheduled. We only came to know morning of 6th November that hon’ble minister is in Bangalore and we tried to avail this opportunity to request his honor to address various long standing problems faced by persons with disability in travel by Railway in which we succeeded. 3. Except one, all the issues contained in this representation have already been placed before the ministry from time to time by various national or regional organizations representing the sector, including the issue of extending concession in Tatkal tickets, extending the concession in those trains in which at present it is not available, withdrawal of restriction of having the escort for availment of concession in the shatabdi and Rajadhani express, etc.
4. The only issue what we added to this, is concerning replacement of term ``totally blind’’ in draft of concession certificate with blind and for this also we have been receiving several requests from the people of Karnataka region since long time. 5. So far the demand of concession in tatkal ticket is concerned, whether the concession is available to any section of the society or not, whether it may or may not be granted to us but I don’t see any harm to ask for the same. But If still public opinion is not in favor to demand this concession, it can be ignored at the stage of further deliberations. 6. So far as the condition of travel with escort in Rajdhani and shathabdi trains is concerned , as I have already mentioned that I referred it not only in a representation submitted by some other NGO some time back , but also referred a letter of railway ministry in response to a quarry raised by AICB Delhi. This letter clearly mentions that the concession in fare in Rajdhani and Shatabdhi Trains is admissible only to those totally blind persons who cannot travel without escort. But if it is clear that the concession in rajadhani and shathabdhi trains is admissible to us even without escort too. So this demand can also be skipped in further course of action. 7. As per the informations what have been brought to our notice so far, Garibrat and torento are only trains in which the concession is not available, if some more trains are there in which the concession was not granted they may also be added. 8. As some of you have suggested some other steps to be taken concerning accessible and barrier free platforms, availability of wheelchairs at station and platforms, sensitization of railway staff, auditory announcements in trains during the journey, etc, many of these issues are already including in this representation and what have been left out so they may be articulated as per the public opinion expressed at various platforms and same may be taken up in forth coming submission. 9. As a conclusion I would like to mentioned that this was neither a final negotiation, nor any formal meeting to discuss and decide the issues, but this was just an attempt to call the attention of the hon’ble minister towards a wide range of problems faced by the persons with disability in travel by railway and which have been repeatedly raised with the ministry with no avail 10. Even in term of an intensive discussion we can work out and compile more comprehensive representation and submit the same to the concerned ministry through our representative organizations at all levels when and where we get chance to do so. With kind regards, Gautam Agarwal General Secretary NFB Karnataka On 11/9/14, Amjad Ahmed Fitwala <amjadahmedfitw...@gmail.com> wrote: > Dear Mr. Agarwal, > > I would really appreciate your valuable efferts towards the visually > challenged and other disabled persons regarding the special concerned > of Indian Railways. it will be more appreciable if you would have > invited suggestions from the list members before submitting this > appeal to the hon'ble railway minister, so that people could raised > some technical suggestions facing on the web site of IRCTC and other > railway channels. > > I think, provision of concessional fare should not demanded as we have > already having concessions in various trains. We can demand > concessional fare in the chair car or third AC of Garibrath or > Janshatabdi express trains, but Duronto express trains > may not be feasible. > > I am please to inform you that a visually impaired can travel with or > without escort in all Rajdhani or Shatabdi Express trains. I myself > and some of my friends were travelled without escort in Rajdhani train > on February 5, 2012 from Mumbai to New Delhi for a seminar so I am > totally disagree with the statement given in the third para of > concession fare. The guideline also appearing on the concession > certificate issued by various NGOs and the revised format of Indian > Railways. > > Currently, no concession is provided in Tatkal quota including senior > citizens, so it is totally meaningless for making cirtain demand. This > is to inform you that the tatkal fare has already revised by the > Indian Railway on time-to-time. Now, a passenger need not to pay full > fare from boarding point to destination; even additional Tatkal > charges are also revised according to the train fare and and classes. > > I hereby request you to kindly make continuous follow up with the > Ministry of Indian Railway so that faster implementation may be done > during this financial year. We should forward the same copy to the > Hon'ble Prime Minister Shri. Narendra Modi for quick implementation. > > I once again would like to thanks to the General Secretary, Mr. Gautam > Agarwal and NFB Karnataka for their needful action. > > Amjad Ahmed Fitwala > > Cell: +91 9833762173 > > > On 11/7/14, goutham agrawal <gtm.agra...@gmail.com> wrote: >> Dear friends, >> >> This is to inform to all of you that yesterday a deligation of NFB >> karnataka including me met hon'ble Railway Minister Sri.Sadananda >> Gowda and submitted representation requesting to address various long >> standing problems faced by persons with disability in travel by >> railway. >> >> Hon'ble Minister gave us a patient hearing and try to understand some >> of the problems. >> >> He has assured us to take a positive note of all the issues in >> consultation with his officers and we will be informed about its >> outcome. >> >> copy of representation submitted to hon'ble minister is reproduced here >> >> >> >> >> To, >> Shri. Sadananda Gowda >> Hon'ble Union Minister for Railways >> Government of India >> >> Dear Sir, >> Sub: Request to address various issues concerning persons with >> disability in travel by railway >> We are a state chapter of leading self help organization of the blind >> in the country (National Federation of the Blind India) and affiliated >> to Disability NGO Alliance (Karnataka) >> National Federation of the Blind Karnataka is striving to facilitate >> effective and meaningful inclusion, empowerment, holistic development, >> promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms of >> persons with visual disabilities in the state. >> We wish to draw your kind attention to the problems faced by persons >> with disabilities, while travelling with the Indian Railways. Most of >> these issues had been raised with your ministry earlier, with no >> avail. >> Some of such key issues include the following >> >> >> 1. Concessions >> (i) Extend Concession to all Trains: The Railways have >> been providing concessions to certain categories of disabled persons >> in mail & express trains, which now has been extended to Rajdhani & >> Shatabdi also. But the concession is not provided in Garib Rath, >> Toronto and some other trains 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 inline >> with air india and do away with the requirement of a separate >> certificate. >> (iii) Travelling without Escorts: At present it is mandatary >> for blind and hearing impaired to travel with escort in Rajdhani and >> Shathabdhi Trains for availment of benefit of concession in fair. >> There is no logic to restrict them travel with escort in Rajdhani and >> Shatabdhi Trains while they are allowed to travel with or without >> escort in all other trains. So the restriction on the blind and >> hearing impaired to travel with escort in Rajadhani and shatabdhi >> trains should be withdrawn. >> (iv) Concession on Tatkal Tickets: The concession given on other >> tickets should also be extended for bookings made under Tatkal by the >> disabled. >> (v) The term ``Totally Blind'' to be replaced with ''blind'' in >> categories of the disabled who are granted the concession in fare. :- >> In present format of certificate prescribed by the railway for >> availment of the concession, the term ``Totally Blind'' is used for >> the category of blind. while the persons with disability act 1995 >> recognizes only two categories of visual disability and they are blind >> and low vision. So creation of such an artificial category of visual >> disability as ``Totally Blind'' for granting the benefit of >> concecession in fare is totally arbitratory, discriminatory, confusing >> and unfare.Hence it needs to be rectified and termed as`` blind'' >> >> 2. Separate quota of berths in AC 2tier/AC 3 tier coaches for >> persons with disabilities: A separate quota of atleast two birth in >> each coach of AC 2 tier/3 tier classes may be earmarked quota should >> be consist of lower berths only. >> >> 3. E Booking Facility: The repeated promises of extending e-booking >> facility to the disabled should be honored. The Railway Board had >> promised in the Delhi High Court to start a pilot project in this >> regard. This is yet to be implemented. E Booking facility should be >> extended to persons with disabilities. inline with E-booking of senior >> citizens with concession. , the TTE can ask for proof (disability >> certificate) during the course of the journey. >> >> 4. Coach for Disabled: Many a time the coach meant for the >> disabled is occupied by other travelers, railway employees and even >> RPF personnel. Placement of this coach has also not been consistent - >> sometimes it is placed at the end of the train and sometimes it is >> placed next to the engine. It should be ensured that the coach be >> placed next to the guard's coach and a disabled sensitive attendant be >> provided in these coaches to ensure that none other than disabled >> persons and their escorts are allowed. >> >> 5. Accessibility: You will appreciate that the Persons with >> Disabilities (Equal Opportunities, Protection of Right and Full >> Participation) Act, 1995, mandates railway stations and coaches to be >> made barrier free. Its implementation, however, has been >> disappointing. The United Nations Convention on Rights of Persons with >> Disabilities (UNCRPD) which India has ratified also mandates that >> persons with disabilities have "access, on an equal basis with others, >> to the physical environment, to transportation........" >> >> Railway stations are not accessible. Ramps are rare and wherever >> available are limited for entry into the foot over-bridges. Platforms >> are inaccessible. The gap (height) between the platform and the coach >> varies from station to station. There is not enough space for mobility >> inside the coaches. Toilets cannot be used by persons with certain >> disabilities. Inter-platform transfers pose a big challenge. >> >> * The Railways should go in for universal design. >> * Ramps/Lifts should be provided wherever necessary. As against >> escalators which are not disabled friendly, elevators can be used by >> persons with disabilities. >> * Floor tiles everywhere should be non slippery >> * 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. >> * To guide persons with low visibility stations should also >> have coloured markings and contrasts to guide low vision persons to >> ticket counters, platforms over bridges etc. Colored markings should >> be made on the edge of platforms including tactile markings to warn >> passengers with low vision of the edge of the platform. >> * All Coaches should have Braille embossed signage. >> * Battery operated cars now provided at some stations should be >> made available at all major stations and platforms. >> * Provision of sign language interpreters at stations. >> >> >> 6. Sensitizing Railway Staff: The disabled encounter a lot of >> problems at railway counters. There is a need to sensitize all >> personnel working in the railways, especially those dealing directly >> with travelers, on issues connected with disability. >> >> 7. Disabled Hawkers: The vast majority of the disabled people in >> the country are poor. Denied employment, many of them do odd jobs, one >> of them being hawking petty items on board trains to sustain >> themselves and their families. Disabled persons should be given >> license to sell such items on trains. >> >> 8. PCO Booths: The railways had earlier allotted PCO booths to >> persons with disabilities. However, now these PCOs have become >> redundant with the large scale use of mobile phones. Many of these PCO >> booths have been disbanded by the railways. These PCO booths may be >> converted into convenience stores for which licenses can be given to >> disabled persons to vend essential goods required by passengers. The >> railways are selling unreserved tickets through private agents. >> Licenses may be given to those operating such booths within railway >> premises to sell such tickets and the license fee may be waived. >> >> 9. Last but not least, usage of terms like "Orthopedically >> Handicapped/ Paraplegic persons", "mentally retarded", "deaf and dumb >> (both afflictions together)", to denote certain disabilities, should >> be discontinued. Instead, the more correct terms like "persons with >> locomotor disability", "intellectual disabilities", "hearing and >> speech impairment" (both conditions together)" should be used. >> >> We have full faith in your administrative competence and sensitivity >> towards the weaker section of the society like persons with disability >> and hope that your honor would consider all afforested issues >> favorably. >> >> >> Yours truly >> >> (Gautam Agarwal) >> General Secretary >> >> Clean India Campaign: Let us also chip in! >> >> >> >> 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.. >> > > Clean India Campaign: Let us also chip in! > > > > 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.. > Clean India Campaign: Let us also chip in! 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..
