Railways streamlines process for concession certificates to physically challenged

In order to streamline the procedure for issuing of concessional certificate to physically challenged persons, Railways has made changes to the rules in case of change of residence for the convenience of the passengers.

Railways has already facilitated convenient booking of concessional tickets including online ticketing for the physically challenged persons.

According to a statement issued by the ministry, in those cases where the applicant has shifted to a new place and his concession certificate has been issued by the government hospital of his previous residence, he or she will be allowed to apply to Divisional Railway Manager's (DRM) office of current residence.

The DRM office will then get the concession certificate verified by the concerned zone in which the government hospital falls which has issued the concession certificate.

Such zone will then send the verification report to the referring division which had sent the request.

Based on the verification report, DRM office will issue the ID card to the physically challenged person or to his or her representative.

The notification further said: "However, original certificates (including address proof indicating current residence) must be shown at the time of collection of card. The time limit for disposal of the application/issue of ID card in such cases is two months from the date of receipt of application."

The photo ID card issued to the eligible physically handicapped person is valid for five years from the date of issue or till the last date upto which the concession certificate is valid whichever is earlier after which it has to be renewed/re-issued for which the same procedure as for issue of fresh photo ID card is to be followed.

The concession certificate is valid for ten years in the age group of 26 to 35 years, in case of permanent disability.

The concession certificate is valid for whole life of the concerned person above the age of 35 years.

--IANS

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