May 13, 2019
The Indian Railways remains the most popular mode of travel across India.
Given their connectivity and prices, it’s hard to beat trains when it comes
to travel. This is true for everyone, regardless of disability, but what the
many infrastructure and accessibility barriers make the experience of train
travel harrowing for the disabled community.
Well, there is some hope in the future with the Indian Railways making some
noises about a dedicated coach for people with disabilities on certain long
distance trains. These are likely to be the widely used Rajdhani,
Duronto and Shatabdi.
Currently outstation trains have two coaches that are used to power the
air-conditioning unit of the train. This will be upgraded say railway
authorities such that they will now need to use a single coach for the
air-conditioning unit. This will make one coach available for the use of
passengers and this is likely to be set aside for passengers with
disabilities.
Dr Ketna L Mehta of the NGO Nina
Foundation, however, says the announcement barely skims the surface
of the problem.
My wish list from the railways is to go beyond this belated announcement
and incorporate these measures too – emergency buttons inside the coaches
connected to engine drivers, intercom phones in working condition,
wheelchair accessible hygienic & clean washrooms, wide doors and ramps,
wheelchair chains for safety, police personnel for protection, water
coolers and a three digit special helpline number. Then the Indian Railways
will be a safe, reasonable and inclusive mode of transport. – Ketna
N Mehta, Founder-Trustee, Nina Foundation
Many others in the disabled community agree that other factors need to be
looked at as well. Nisha Gupta, a wheelchair basketball
player and a frequent train traveller, says much depends on implementation,
which is a weak spot.
“The idea of a dedicated coach does sound good but will it be properly
implemented? In accessible train coaches, platforms, entries into railway
stations and many other challenges are there. I travel alone a lot and worry
constantly about safety since I am a wheelchair user. I wait for an
accessible future when I will be able to catch a train without relying on the
help of strangers”, says Nisha.
The change, as the community points out, has to be done in comprehensive
manner and not in a piecemeal way to make train travel truly accessible.
“The special coach for the disabled is a good initiative but the Indian
railways are not looking for a holistic solution. First of all, they need to
make the railway station accessible. There should be an elevator or a ramp to
reach the platform. It is impossible for a wheelchair user to climb the
staircases of the bridge. Then the platform and the train door should be at
the same level so that the person on the wheelchair or the wheelchair is not
required to be lifted. The door of the coaches should be wide enough to let
the wheelchair get inside. The accessible coach should have a wheelchair
accessible washroom”, says Jasmina Khanna, a Mumbai-based software
tester
These are longstanding demands and will benefit of not just disabled people
but also the elderly. The way forward is to look at a wide-based solution
that addresses all concerns.
ALSO READ: Railways’ refusal to accept UDID cards underlines larger apathy
towards disabled passengers
Source: https://newzhook.com/story/22233
