THE executive committee of the National Platform for the Rights of the Disabled (NPRD) in a statement  issued on February 26, 2015 noted that the rail budget was very disappointing from the perspective of persons with disabilities. It regretted that none of the major concerns of persons with disabilities have been addressed.

The announcements made do not reflect the lofty ideals of making the railways “accessible” and a “vision for the future” that the railway minister talked about.

Except for conceding one of the long pending demands of having Braille signage on coaches, none of the other major issues raised by disabled rights organisations have been accepted. The rail minister ought to know that persons with visual impairments can reach the coaches independently only if there are tactile markings to guide them to the entry, bridges, stairs and platforms as also provision of Braille signage on the entry/exit points and on the railing of the foot overbridge, the statement noted.

While earlier, the elderly or disabled were provided a wheelchair on demand at the station, now one would have to book it through the IRCTC. This notional assistance or facility, which was free till now, will now entail a fee.

The railway minister has announced that disabled persons desirous of availing concessions will have to get themselves registered with the railways. This is in total opposition to what the disability sector has been demanding. Like in the case of senor citizens (who have to produce proof of age during the journey only) the proof of disability ie, certificates issued by government authorities should be demanded only during the course of the journey. By turning down this proposal and instead asking the disabled to get registered, the disabled are being singled out for discriminatory treatment.

The announcement of more allocations for construction of lifts and escalators is welcome. But such announcements have been made in earlier budgets too, but stations continue to be inaccessible for persons with disabilities. For persons with disabilities and the elderly as opposed to escalators, lifts are preferable, the statement said.

The railway minister has also announced that doors of coaches would be widened. While this would indeed help wheelchairs to be loaded into the compartments, it would in no way make travel comfortable for persons using them. This would be meaningful only if issues like the reduction of the gap (height) between the platform and the compartment, maneuvering space inside the compartments and accessible toilets are also addressed. Last but not least there is no talk of universal design or the provision of sign language interpreters at stations.

The minister has announced more involvement of the private sector in the railways. Already employment avenues for the disabled are shrinking in this sector. With the provision of reservations not being applicable to the private sector, this would mean much lesser jobs for the disabled in this sector, the statement noted.