Disability rights activists meet rly minister, raise issues

Disability rights activists met Railway Minister Piyush Goyal today and raised the issues of accessibility at stations, toilets, platforms and the lack of ramps and other features for the differently-abled persons across the railway network.
In a memorandum handed over to Goyal, the activists said be it the gap between the platform and the coach or space inside the coaches, mobility issues were being faced by people with disabilities (PWDs) on a daily basis.
Earlier, hundreds of differently-abled people from 12 states and 21 organisations, under the banner of the National Platform for the Rights of the Disabled, demonstrated at Parliament Street here and demanded the "Right to Travel by Railways -- for accessible and affordable railways."

"There is not enough space for mobility inside the coaches. The toilets cannot be used by persons with certain disabilities. Inter-platform transfers pose a big challenge.
"Ramps/lifts should be provided wherever necessary, as against escalators which are not disabled-friendly. Elevators can be used by persons with disabilities," the memorandum said.
The activists also suggested that the railways should make a provision for temporary ramps on platforms for alighting and boarding till foldable ramps were installed in the coaches.

"Tactile marking should be made on the platform to guide blind persons to the exit, bridges, stairs, ticketing counters etc. Tactile markings should also be provided on the edge of the platforms," the memorandum said.

To guide persons with a poor vision, the stations should also have coloured markings, it added.
"All coaches should have Braille-embossed signage, both on the exterior as well as in the interior (seats)," the memorandum said.
Battery-operated cars should be made available at all the major stations and platforms for free, it added.
"Provision of sign language interpreters/signages in local languages at stations should be made," the memorandum said.
The activists also pointed out that even if the railways followed its own"Manual for Standards and Specifications for Railway Stations, which was brought out in 2009, it would make a huge difference.

In a statement, the activists said the minister had assured them that he would look into all the demands raised by them.