Lok Sabha Question No. 3860 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-08-09
Subject: Free Tickets for Disabled
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: SANJAY(KAKA) RAMCHANDRA PATIL

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.3860 TO BE ANSWERED ON 09.08.2017

## FREE TICKETS FOR DISABLED

†3860.  SHRI SANJAY KAKA PATIL:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a)   whether the Railways proposes to provide rail tickets free or at minimum fare to the Persons with Disabilities (Divyangs) and the persons suffering from serious  diseases; and
- (b)     if so, the fare structure being adopted  in this regard?

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## ANSWER (SHRI RAJEN GOHAIN)

(a) & (b):  A Statement is laid on the Table of the House. *****

STATEMENT  REFERRED  TO  IN  REPLY  TO  PARTS  (a)  AND  (b)  OF UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3860 BY SHRI SANJAY KAKA PATIL TO BE  ANSWERED  IN  LOK  SABHA  ON  09.08.2017  REGARDING  FREE TICKETS FOR DISABLED

(a)  &  (b):    Indian  Railways  already  extend  travel  concessions  in passenger  fare  to  persons  with  disabilities  (Divyangs)  and  the persons  suffering  from  some  serious  diseases.    The  element  of concession ranges from 25% to 100%. The details are as under:-

| S.No.   | CATEGORY OF PERSONS                                                                                                      | PERCENTAGE OF CONCESSION*                                                                                                                                                     |
|---------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| I       | Persons with Disabilities (Divyangs)                                                                                     | Persons with Disabilities (Divyangs)                                                                                                                                          |
| 1       | Orthopaedically Handicapped/ Paraplegic persons who cannot travel without escort - **for any purpose                     |  75% in 2nd, SL, 1st Class, 3AC, AC chair Car  50% in 1AC and 2AC,  25% in 3AC & AC Chair Car of Rajdhani/Shatabdi trains  50% in MST & QST  One escort is also eligible |
| 2       | Mentally retarded persons who cannot travel without escort - **for any purpose                                           |  75% in 2nd, SL, 1st Class, 3AC, AC chair Car  50% in 1AC and 2AC,  25% in 3AC & AC Chair Car of Rajdhani/Shatabdi trains  50% in MST & QST  One escort is also eligible |
| 3       | Blind persons travelling alone or with an escort - for any purpose                                                       | for same element of concession                                                                                                                                                |
| 4       | Deaf & Dumb persons (both afflictions together in the same person) travelling alone or with an escort - for any purpose. |  50% in 2nd, SL and 1st Class  50% in MST & QST  One escort is also eligible for same element of concession                                                                |

** The  facility  to  book  ticket  alone  has  also  been  provided. However, the eligibility criteria for availing the concession remains the same.

|   II | Patients                                                                                                                         | Patients                                                                                                                                                                     |
|------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|    1 | Cancer patients travelling alone or with an escort for treatment/periodic check-up.                                              |  75% in 2nd, 1st class & AC chair car  100% in SL & 3AC  50% in 1AC & 2AC  one escort eligible for same element of concession (except in SL & 3AC where escort gets 75%) |
|    2 | Thalassemia patients travelling alone or with escort for treatment/periodic check-up                                             |  75% in 2nd, SL, 1st Class, 3AC, AC chair Car  50% in 1AC and 2AC,  One escort is also eligible                                                                           |
|    3 | Heart patients travelling alone or with an escort for heart surgery                                                              | for same element of                                                                                                                                                          |
|    4 | Kidney patients travelling alone or with an escort for kidney transplant Operation/Dialysis                                      | concession                                                                                                                                                                   |
|    5 | Haemophilia Patients - severe & moderate form of disease - travelling alone or with an escort for treatment/periodical check up. |  75% in 2nd, SL, 1st Class, 3AC, AC chair Car  One escort is also eligible for same element of concession                                                                  |
|    6 | T.B./Lupas Valgaris patients travelling alone or with an escort for treatment/periodical check-up                                |  75% in 2nd, SL and 1st Class  One escort is also eligible for same element of concession                                                                                  |

|   7 | Non-infectious Leprosy patients - for treatment/periodical check- up.   |  75% in 2nd, SL and 1st Class  One escort is also eligible for same element of concession   |
|-----|-------------------------------------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|   8 | AIDS patients - for treatment/check-up at nominated ART Centres.        |  50% in 2nd Class                                                                            |
|   9 | Ostomy patients - travelling for any purpose.                           |  50% in MST & QST  One escort is also eligible for same element of concession.              |
|  10 | Sickle cell Anaemia - for treatment/periodical check-up                 |  50% In Sleeper, AC Chair Car, AC 3-tier and AC 2-tier classes                               |
|  11 | Aplastic Anaemia - for treatment/periodical check-up.                   |  50% In Sleeper, AC Chair Car, AC 3-tier and AC 2-tier classes.                              |

Further, w.e.f. 15.05.2017, Patients who are already eligible to travel in second class and AC Chair car of Mail/Express trains, shall be eligible to travel in Jan Shatabdi trains.  At present, there is no proposal to increase the element of concession or to allow free travel to  persons  with  Disabilities  (Divyangs)  and  persons  suffering  from serious diseases.

******