It was going to hold upward a prepare trip for me shortly afterward a long time. I was traveling to Puttaparthi past times Karnataka Express for darashan of Sri Satya Sai Baba along alongside my manlike somebody nurture who is a staunch devotee. For a number of people prepare travels were something to hold back frontwards to as well as enjoyable. In fact they were enjoyable for me to till I became severely disabled having to purpose a wheelchair. Since I became disabled I tried to avoid prepare travels every bit much every bit possible but considering that it was the most affordable agency of go I was forced to purpose it on occasions.
My manlike somebody nurture made the bookings good inward advance. The railways gave a considerably large concession on the ticket for the disabled traveller as well as i escort traveling alongside them making the go rattling cheap. We had heard most a ‘Handicapped Coach’ that the railways had introduced inward every train. But it was an unreserved rider vehicle so a disabled rider could non reserve it as well as every bit a affair of security as well as convenience a disabled somebody would rarely travels unreserved, hence this rider vehicle was useless for us every bit it even so remains to hold upward for most disabled travellers.
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| Coach for disabled most 2 feet high as well as a feet away from the platform without a ramp |
I was happy for non having access to this ‘Handicapped Coach’ that the Railways had so generously provided. Firstly the rider vehicle was a second-class rider vehicle as well as considering inward the scorching oestrus inward May nosotros were going to go air-conditioned. Secondly the blueprint of the rider vehicle was non exceptionally accessible – boarding the prepare was even so going to hold upward hard as well as using the bathroom was even so going to hold upward impossible. The most of import argue why I was happy non using this ‘special’ facility was because I did non desire to hold upward singled out along alongside my menage unit of measurement as well as placed separately. I constitute the entire concept discriminatory. In my hear it was similar the British Raj where Indians were non allowed inward the same compartment every bit the British, hither the disabled travellers existence same every bit the Indians.
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| State of the bathroom inward the rider vehicle for disabled people |
One of the chief preparations for me earlier a prepare go apart from packing was organise my bladder as well as bowel every bit the toilets inward the prepare are inaccessible to a disabled somebody similar me. Just because the Railways receive got designed their coaches to hold upward so inaccessible to the disabled most people alongside disabilities are faced alongside this challenge. Considering it was a two-day journey, I needed to halt my intake of nutrient as well as liquids nearly ii days earlier commencing the journey. It is non slow to produce so because every bit dehydration sets inward i begins to experience weak. Needless to tell I needed to proceed the intake to bare minimum throughout the journey.
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| Overflowing drinking H2O facility |
This I must signal out is only the outset of the difficulties to go hold upward train. The Railways is proud of making its large stations accessible to disabled people, but hither in i trial to a greater extent than at that topographic point is much to hold upward done. During a watch to the New as well as Old Delhi railway stations recently, I was amazed at the bizarre on solid set down implementation of these access features. The depression drinking H2O sink was blocked as well as flood alongside water. The accessible restroom was located inward the ladies waiting room making me wonder where a disabled homo was supposed to go. As for the status of the special waiting room the lesser said the better.
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| crossing over tracks |
In this entire thread of idea acre making stations to a greater extent than disabled friendly at that topographic point is no occupation for the security of disabled passengers. The basic number of inter-platform transfer seems to receive got been exclusively ignored. For instance, whenever I’ve travelled past times train, I receive got e'er been taken every bit luggage over the railway tracks past times a coolie, putting me every bit a rider at a higher lead chances of accidents than anybody else. What disheartens me most is when I oftentimes read inward word papers that the Railways inward its agreement is sanctioning coin to install escalators inward diverse stations for the produce goodness of disabled people acre it’s a internationally recognised norm that people using wheelchairs are non allowed to purpose escalators. Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 dominion followed past times the Delhi Metro as well as the Airports inward Bharat but happily ignored past times the Railways. This in i trial to a greater extent than is an indication towards wretched security occupation for the disabled.
The anxiety of go does non subside fifty-fifty afterward reaching the platform good inward fourth dimension to board the train. The coolies that was hired to choose me over the tracks till the platform was engaged on the status that he was going to board me inward the prepare as well as go out me on my berth. Of class the toll of this is high hence every bit a disabled traveller acre the railways was generous inward its concessions but because of inaccessibility the added toll to hire ii coolies to board as well as de-board me compensates for the concession availed.
Once the prepare arrived as well as the initial frenzy subsided ii coolies elevator me similar a give the sack of potatoes (one grabbing me from nether my shoulders as well as the other from nether my knees) as well as carry me in. There is no signal inward my feeling awkward or angry at the way I am physically handled every bit at that topographic point are no other options inward whatever case. Train is most 50 cm higher from the platform as well as carrying me upward is difficult, but the existent challenge is taking me inward through the extra narrow as well as extra heavy door of the air-conditioned compartment. There is a jam caused my getting inward blocking the way for the rest. In betwixt all the confusion that is created the coolies scrap to crush inward in through the door. There are e'er a few scratches or ruddy finger marks of the coolies manus that remain every bit a retentiveness of this experience. I receive got a deep breath of relief every bit I settle on my berth finally. One 3rd of the journeying is completed for me at that moment.
As the prepare rolls frontwards I remain happily perched on my berth enjoying the scenery exterior every bit feeling bad most the way I am treated every bit a disabled somebody is of no purpose every bit inward so many years of existence disabled I receive got reconciled to this differential treatment, it is non something specific only to the railways inward whatever case. My berth was my spot for the side past times side ii days every bit I am going to hold upward able to larn downward for roughly fresh air at whatever of the stations neither was I going to hold upward able to access the sink or the toilet. With a restricted intake at that topographic point was nada to a greater extent than that I could produce to avert something every bit natural every bit natures call. All I hoped for instantly was for an eventless journey.
As the prepare jolted to a halt at the Puttaparti Station where the halt was only for a pair of minutes, my manlike somebody nurture was already at the compartment door trying to hail to coolies to assist us out. He had already spoken to the ticket conductor explaining him our occupation inward de-boarding the prepare as well as requesting him to ensure that the prepare didn’t motion ahead without letting us off. The TC assured him as well as told him non to worry as well as larn of comfortably. In spite of hurrying frantically to expedite our de-boarding, the prepare jolted ahead alongside me inward the hands of ii coolies alongside i of them on the platform as well as the other even so inward the train. I idea this was the halt of me but my manlike somebody nurture ran frontwards as well as choose lead maintain of me as well as seat me on the platform. From the moving prepare the coolies unloaded my wheelchair as well as other luggage, it was clear that the TC had non bothered to ensure my security every bit he had promised to.
This was a journeying that is etched inward my hear forever. Today every bit I receive got go older as well as broader physically I know that at that topographic point is no way I tin brand a prepare journeying ever again. The only mode of go available to me is to go past times air. Since it is non something that is rattling affordable to me I am rattling restricted inward my go non able to receive got every bit may holidays I would similar to. I am discriminated as well as excluded because of only i argue as well as that argue is ‘inaccessibility’. As a disabled somebody only the to a greater extent than expensive services are accessible to me such every bit air go instead of rail travel, using taxis instead of world transport, 5 star hotels instead of cheaper invitee houses. It is every bit though I am existence charged a revenue enhancement for existence disabled!
The concession provided past times the railways is useless unless they render accessibility as well as providing accessibility is non rocket science, it only required that the railways consider inclusion, security as well as comfort of disabled travellers every bit i of their chief objectives as well as and so go towards it inward a phased as well as an inclusive manner. It is non charity that a disabled somebody needs inward the shape of concessions rather nosotros desire inclusion as well as the correct to purpose the service alongside the same dignity as well as convenience every bit anybody else.
By
Shivani Gupta
From AccessAbility - https://goaindiatouristguidemap.blogspot.com//search?q=?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed:+blogspot/NEgfY+%28Accessability%29
By
Shivani Gupta
From AccessAbility - https://goaindiatouristguidemap.blogspot.com//search?q=?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed:+blogspot/NEgfY+%28Accessability%29