The All Kerala Wheelchair Rights Federation (AKWRF) recently gave a
petition to Hibi Eden, Member of Parliament. The petition says that trains
and railway stations largely remain inaccessible for wheelchair users owing
to which they are unable to travel independently. The government must step in
and work towards making a change so that a wheelchair user can use railway
facilities without any hassles.
The All Kerala Wheelchair Rights Federation (AKWRF), an
organisation that empowers wheelchair users in Kerala, are working towards
making all the places accessible and disabled friendly. Last week, they gave
a petition to Hibi Eden, Member of Parliament to make all
train coaches accessible for wheelchair users. The initiative was taken up
the state committee of AKWRF.
The petition states that all coaches for disabled people in trains must have
electric ramp facilities so that a wheelchair user can enter and
exit by pressing the switch. Members also pointed out that only prominent
railway stations in the state have lifts and
escalators. These facilities must be introduced not only in
prominent stations, but in all the railway stations across Kerala so that
wheelchair users can travel without hassles. Apart from that, all the
coaches in trains that are going to be introduced by central
government must be made accessible.
Rajeev Palluruthy, Secretary, AKWRF says that Hibi Eden has
given a positive response to the petition.
Hibi Eden has agreed to raise these concerns in the next parliamentarian
meet. Al the new trains must have facilities for wheelchair users.
Currently, there is only one seat in normal coaches and we are unable to
even access it. In our petition, we have requested to provide disabled
friendly parking spaces at railway stations. Strict penalty must be imposed
on those who violate the rules and park there-Rajeev Palluruthy,
Secretary, AKWRF.
AKWRF also highlighted on the importance of having accessible
toilets in both trains and railway stations. Apart from that, AKWRF
has requested in the petition to include families of people with disabilities
in the Below Poverty Line (BPL) list. “There are many wheelchair
users who met with an accident or fell ill later on in life owing to which
they are unable to support their families now. We want their names to be
added in the BPL list so that they can get all the government privileges when
it comes to getting rationed products”, says Rajeev.
Sindhu Sudevan, President of AKWRF in Trivandrum says,
“Currently, there are one of two trains that ply daily with facilities for
wheelchair users. Most of the railway stations still remain inaccessible and
the excuse that officials give is that wheelchair users hardly travel in
trains. We are in a situation where we can’t travel in trains or buses
because all forms of public transport are inaccessible to us. A solution must
be provided at the earliest. Authorities promise us many things but they fail
to implement anything”.
Members of AKRF claimed that enhancing facilities for people with
disabilities in trains will help them to travel independently. They are
hoping that the government will not delay in implementing their petition at
the earliest.
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