'Create sensitivity towards differently-abled at airports'

With incidents of differently-abled people being handled insensitively at airports on rise, a right's organisations today demanded sensitisation of security personnel to the diverse needs of such persons and devising of procedures to carry out security checks in a dignified manner.
"Procedure have to be so devised that security checks on person with disabilities are done in a manner which is both dignified and doesn't seem to be intrusive of their privacy. Security personnel needs to be sensitised to the diverse needs of persons with disabilities," said Anjalee Agarwal, Executive Director of Samarthyam, National Centre for Accessible Environments (NCAE).
The country's aviation security agency, Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS), is coming up with an Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for security personnel engaged in screening of passengers with disabilities travelling by air.

BCAS sought suggestions from various stakeholders, including airlines, airport operators, Central Industrial Security Force and disabled rights organisations on the issue.
NCAE and National Platform for the Rights of the Disabled (NPRD) were representing the differently-abled persons in the meeting, as there had been cases in which disabled persons were asked to go through security checks in "indignified" manner at various airports.
"A system should be put in place where prosthesis users, wheelchair users, those using braces, crutches and other such assisting devices undergo a search without stripping and removing of artificial limb or making them transfer from their wheelchair," said Agarwal.

NCAE and Murlidharan-led NPRD also suggested that screener should be trained to be courteous and friendly, treat everyone fairly and equally, respectful throughout the screening process and assess needs of person. They should ask and not assume the type of assistance needed by such persons and provide appropriate screening options to them.

The other suggestions include, separate screening of such passengers, screening points should have full body scanners, chairs and walking aids.
The persons should not be asked to stand up or transfer wheel chair provided by the airport and full body scanners, if a pat down search is required, then it should be done by personnel of same gender.

Apart from these, suggestions were also made for passengers with low or no vision, hearing impairment, hidden disability and prosthetic limbs. Private screening area should be in close proximity and others.
BCAS has prepared a draft of SOP and is likely to be adopted after some changes suggested by the organisations.