Lok Sabha Question No. 2004 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-03-07
Subject: Railway Facilities to Passengers
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: ANUPAM HAZRA

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.2004 TO BE ANSWERED ON 07.03.2018

## RAILWAY FACILITIES TO PASSENGERS

2004.  DR. ANUPAM HAZRA:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a)  whether  tickets  are  made  available  on  priority  basis  to  the patients and their attendants going from one State to the other and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether concession is given/ proposed to be given in rail fare to such passengers belonging to the economically weaker family, if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;
- (c)  whether  special  concession  in  fare  and  reservation  on  priority basis is given/ proposed to be given to the candidate belonging to the  economically  weaker  family  for    attending  examination  and interview  for  government  services  for  travelling  in  train  from  one State to the other; and
- (d) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

(SHRI RAJEN GOHAIN)

- (a) to (d) : A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.

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STATEMENT  REFERRED  TO  IN  REPLY  TO  PARTS  (a)  TO  (d)  OF UNSTARRED  QUESTION  NO.  2004  BY  DR.  ANUPAM  HAZRA  TO  BE ANSWERED  IN  LOK  SABHA  ON  07.03.2018  REGARDING  RAILWAY FACILITIES TO PASSENGERS

(a) & (b):  Indian Railways extend travel concessions in passenger fare to 11 categories of patients irrespective of their income status and the element  of  concession  ranges  from  25%  to  100%.  The  details  are  as under:-

| S. No.   | CATEGORY OF PERSONS                                                                                        | PERCENTAGE OF CONCESSION*                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      |
|----------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| I        | Patients                                                                                                   | Patients                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       |
| 1        | Cancer patients travelling alone or with an escort for treatment/periodic check- up. (reserved/unreserved) |  75% in 2 nd class, 1 st class (FC) & AC chair car (CC)  100% in Second Sleeper (SL) & AC- 3 tier (3AC)  50% in 1 st AC (1AC) & AC-2 tier (2AC)  one escort eligible for same element of concession (except in Second Sleeper (SL) & AC- 3tier (3AC) where escort gets 75% |
| 2        | Thalassemia patients travelling alone or with escort for treatment/periodic check- up                      |  75% in 2 nd class, Second Sleeper (SL), 1 st Class (FC), AC-3 tier (3AC), AC chair Car (CC)                                                                                                                                                                                  |

|   3 | Heart patients travelling alone or with an escort for heart surgery                                                              |  50% in 1 st AC (1AC) and AC-2 tier (2AC)  One escort is also eligible for                                                                             |
|-----|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|   4 | Kidney patients travelling alone or with an escort for kidney transplant Operation/Dialysis                                      | same element of concession                                                                                                                               |
|   5 | Haemophilia Patients - severe & moderate form of disease - travelling alone or with an escort for treatment/periodical check up. |  75% in 2 nd class, Second Sleeper(SL), 1 st Class (FC), AC-3 tier (3AC), AC chair car(CC)  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 2 nd class, Second Sleeper (SL) and 1 st Class(FC)  One escort is also eligible for same element of concession                                 |
|   7 | Non-infectious Leprosy patients - for treatment/periodical check-up.                                                             |  75% in 2 nd class, Second Sleeper (SL) and 1 st Class(FC)  One escort is also eligible for same element of concession                                 |
|   8 | AIDS patients - for treatment/check-up at nominated ART Centres.                                                                 |  50% in 2 nd Class                                                                                                                                      |
|   9 | Ostomy patients - travelling for any purpose.                                                                                    |  50% in Monthly Season Ticket & Quarterly Season Ticket                                                                                                 |

|    |                                                         |  One escort is also eligible for same element of concession.                                 |
|----|---------------------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| 10 | Sickle cell Anaemia - for treatment/periodical check-up |  50% in Second Sleeper(SL), AC Chair Car (CC), AC 3-tier (3AC) and AC 2-tier (2AC) classes   |
| 11 | Aplastic Anaemia - for treatment/periodical check-up.   |  50% in Second Sleeper (SL), AC Chair Car (CC), AC 3-tier (3AC) and AC 2-tier (2AC) 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.

As regards priority in allotment of berths/seats, in the computerized Passenger Reservation System (PRS) there is a provision to permit cancer Patients and their attendants travelling on concessional  tickets  issued  in  exchange  of  concession  certificate,  to directly access Emergency Quota at the time of booking itself. Maximum number of berths/seats out of the Emergency Quota in a train, which can be accessed by Cancer patients and their attendants in Sleeper class is 4 and 2 each in Air conditioned (AC) Chair Car, AC 3 tier, AC 2 tier and First Classes. In addition, separate Cancer Patient Quota has also been defined in some identified trains.

(c) & (d): Indian Railways extend travel concessions in passenger fare to Unemployed  youths    irrespective  of  their  income  status  to  attend competitive  examination  and  interview  for  government  services.    The details are as under:-

|   S.No | Category                                                                                                                                                                                                         | PERCENTAGE OF CONCESSION*                                                                               |
|--------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|      1 | Unemployed youths : - (i) to attend interview for job Statutory Bodies, Municipal Corporation, Govt Under- taking, University or Public Sector Body. (ii) to attend interviews for jobs in Central & State Govt. | 50% in 2 nd Class and Second Sleeper (SL) class  100% in 2 nd class  50% in Second Sleeper (SL) class |
|      2 | Entrance exam - Girls of Govt. schools in rural areas - for national level for medical, engineering, etc. entrance exam.                                                                                         | 75% in 2 nd class.                                                                                      |
|      3 | Concession to students appearing in main written examination conducted by UPSC & Central Staff Selection Commissions.                                                                                            | 50% in 2 nd class.                                                                                      |

As regards priority in allotment of berths/seats out of Emergency Quota,  a  limited  number  of  berths/seats  have  been  earmarked  as Emergency Quota (EQ) in different trains and in different classes. At the time of allotment of berths in this Quota, preference is given for travel of high dignitaries. The other requisitions received from various quarters  are  considered  for  release  of  berths  out  of  the  remaining Emergency Quota (after  providing  confirmed  accommodation  for  self travel  of  high  dignitaries)  taking  into  account  factors  like  status  of passengers travelling, nature of urgency like travelling on Government Duty, bereavement in the family, sickness, job interview etc.

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