TIRUNELVELI
Physically challenged persons, affiliated to Tamil Nadu Association for the Rights of All Types of Differently Abled and Caregivers (TARATDAC), staged a demonstration here on Tuesday to highlight their demands, which included 75% concession in ticket fare in all trains.
The protesters said the 75% concession in the ticket fare should include tickets reserved under ‘Tatkal scheme’ and it should be extended to all differently abled persons. Instead of asking the differently abled to produce a certificate authorising them as ‘physically challenged’ at the time of reserving tickets, the authorities should allow them to produce it to the Travelling Ticket Examiner during the journey.
Instead of asking differently abled persons to produce the special certificate issued by the Indian Railways for journey, the authorities should accept the Universal Identity Card issued by the State or Central government.
They stressed that illegal occupancy of coaches or seats meant for the differently abled by railway staff or railway police personnel should be stopped. The height of platforms should be increased to enable the differently abled to board trains without much difficulty.
The protesters said apart from creating ramps in all platforms and at entrances of railway stations, lifts and elevators should be provided. They also demanded introduction of battery cars at all railway stations and doubling of lower berth quota for them.
Those escorting differently abled persons during the journey should not be compelled to produce Aadhaar card. Physically challenged persons should be allowed to sell snacks or minor products on trains, they said.
