Two weeks ago, disability rights groups in Kerala were all set to legally
battle the Kerala Urban Road Transport Corporation (KURTC)
for removing disabled-friendly features in their low floor buses.
The road transport authorities had added more seats to the space where space
had been set aside for wheelchairs to be locked and kept. When questioned,
they response was that the rush during peak passenger traffic hours made it
difficult to dedicate spaces for wheelchair users. So they decided to clock
the entrance for wheelchair users.
Angered by this callous response, the All Kerala Wheelchair Rights
Federation, along with other NGOs and people, took the matter up
with higher authorities and now justice has been granted.
AK Saseendran, Kerala Transport Minister took to social
media to promise that wheelchair users will not have to face any hassles from
here on.
The Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) has been directed to
bring back all facilities for disabled people that were earlier removed. A
complaint was raised pointing out that disabled people lost facilities
inside low floor buses when new seats were introduced. That is why the
government decided to bring back all the facilities that were there earlier
as well. –AK Saseendran, Kerala Transport Minister
The KURTC-run low floor buses are the only public road transport facilities
for wheelchair users in the state. They have wheelchair ramps
which make it easier to enter the bus as well as dedicated areas for keeping
wheelchairs. It is also an affordable means of transport for many disabled
people in the state and taking away these facilities was a violation of the
RPWD Act 2016. The Act clearly states that all public roads and transport
systems are to be made accessible and disabled-friendly.
Wheelchair users had to cross some hurdles to ensure that their voices were
heard.
Rajeev Palluruthy, Secretary, All Kerala Wheelchair
Rights Federation (AKWRF), led the fight to ensure that these
facilities were brought back. On 20 October 2018, AKWRF authorities
registered their first complaint. On 7 November 2018, the second complaint
was filed at the Transport Minister’s office. The third complaint was
directly handed over to the minister on 10 November 2018. This was followed
up with a complaint with Tomin Thachankery, former managing
director of KSRTC.
“We made sure that our complaints were heard loud and clear. There are many
wheelchair users who rely on these low floor buses for commuting to places.
By making buses inaccessible, authorities are just denying wheelchair users
of their rights”, says Palluruthy.
The issue was finally raised at the legislative assembly after which
concerned authorities were moved into taking back their orders. Activists
also had a special word of thanks for George Fernandez, an
MLA who stood by them through this fight.
ALSO READ: Kerala’s disability rights groups gear up to challenge unjust road
transport authorities
Source: https://newzhook.com/story/21539
