Lok Sabha Question No. 501 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2020-02-05
Subject: Reviewing of Concession Policy
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: Sajda Ahmed

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 501 TO BE ANSWERED ON 05.02.2020

## REVIEWING OF CONCESSION POLICY

501. SHRIMATI SAJDA AHMED:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a)  the total amount of concession given category wise during the last three years;
- (b)    the  category-wise growth of concessional passengers during the last three years;
- (c)  the  list  of  the  illness/diseases  for  which  concession  is  being provided to the patients;
- (d)    whether  the  Government  has  reviewed  the  concession  policy  to reduce the burden; and
- (e)   if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER MINISTER OF RAILWAYS AND COMMERCE & INDUSTRY ( SHRI PIYUSH GOYAL)

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

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STATEMENT  REFERRED  TO  IN  REPLY  TO  PARTS  (a)  TO  (e)  OF UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.501 BY SHRIMATI SAJDA AHMED TO BE ANSWERED IN LOK SABHA ON 05.02.2020 REGARDING REVIEWING OF CONCESSION POLICY

(a): Indian Railways extend travel concessions in passenger fare to 53 categories of passengers and the element of concession ranges from 10% to 100%. The details of revenue foregone due to concession given to various categories of passengers during the last three years are as under:-

( ` in Crores)  (Approximate)

| Category                      | Year    | Year    | Year    |
|-------------------------------|---------|---------|---------|
|                               | 2016-17 | 2017-18 | 2018-19 |
| Physically challenged persons | 109.35  | 125.24  | 136.95  |
| Patients                      | 90.11   | 87.38   | 99.39   |
| Senior Citizens               | 1375.61 | 1490.72 | 1635.60 |
| Izzat MST                     | 1.34    | 3.60    | 2.93    |
| *Others                       | 93.64   | 102.70  | 119.96  |
| Total                         | 1670.05 | 1809.64 | 1994.83 |

*Others include students, Press correspondents, sports  persons, war widows, etc.

(b):  The category-wise growth of concessional passengers during the last three years are as under:-

in Actuals)

(

| Category                  | Year      | Year      | Year      |
|---------------------------|-----------|-----------|-----------|
|                           | 2016-17   | 2017-18   | 2018-19   |
| Persons with Disabilities | 9836732   | 11779837  | 12206931  |
| Patients                  | 2524749   | 2404157   | 2649749   |
| Senior Citizens           | 104478699 | 111093904 | 120183809 |
| Izzat MST                 | 2089100   | 5988250   | 5173800   |
| *Others                   | 138140595 | 161362885 | 156430878 |
| Total                     | 257069875 | 292629033 | 296645167 |

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

|   S. No. | CATEGORY OF PATIENTS                                                                        | PERCENTAGE OF CONCESSION*                                                                                                                                                    |
|----------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|        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 for same element of concession                                            |
|        3 | Heart patients travelling alone or with an escort for heart surgery                         |  75% in 2nd, SL, 1st Class, 3AC, AC chair Car  50% in 1AC and 2AC,  One escort is also eligible for same element of concession                                            |
|        4 | Kidney patients travelling alone or with an escort for kidney transplant Operation/Dialysis |  75% in 2nd, SL, 1st Class, 3AC, AC chair Car  50% in 1AC and 2AC,  One escort is also eligible for same element of concession                                            |

-3-

|   S. No. | CATEGORY OF PATIENTS                                                                                                             | PERCENTAGE OF 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 SL, AC Chair Car, AC 3-tier and AC 2- tier classes                                                 |
|       11 | Aplastic Anaemia - for treatment/periodical check-up.                                                                            |  50% In SL, AC Chair Car, AC 3-tier and AC 2- tier classes.                                                |

SL- Sleeper Class; AC - Air Condition; MST - Monthly Season Ticket QST - Quarterly Season Ticket.

(d) & (e):   At present, there is no proposal to withdraw the concessions given  to  Indian  senior  citizens  and  other  categories  of  passengers. However,  in view of increase in revenue foregone  year after year due to concessions being given to different categories of passengers,  the following action have already been taken:-

- (i)  Senior  Citizens  of  foreign  nationals  and Non-resident Indians have been  excluded  from  the  senior  citizen  category  for  the  purpose  of concession in passenger fare.

(ii)  No concession has been given in the newly introduced trains like Humsafar, Antyodaya, Gatimaan, Vande Bharat etc.

(iii)  With  effect  from  22.07.2017,  senior  citizen  passengers  now  can opt to give up 50% of the concession in addition to the existing option of giving up 100% concession.

- (iv)  No new concession has been given during the last 5 years.

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