Lok Sabha Question No. 5479 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-04-05
Subject: Benefits for Old Aged/Differently Abled Persons
Ministry: SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT
Asked by: M. K. Raghavan

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.5479 TO BE ANSWERED ON 05.04.2022

## BENEFITS FOR OLD AGEDIDIFFERENTLY ABLED PERSONS

5479. SHRI MK RAGHAVAN:

Will the Minister of SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has undertaken any measures for making boarding and de-boarding easier for old aged/differently abled persons in public transport; if So, the details thereof; and
- (6) whether Government has observed that Rail transport is difficult for differently abled persons in wheel chairs, if S0, whether the Government has taken any initiatives for their benefit; if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT (SUSHRI PRATIMA BHOUMIK)

- (a) & (b): deboarding easier for senior citizens/ differently abled persons in public transport

Details of measures for providing quality transport services to the senior citizens/differently abled persons (including differently abled persons in wheel chairs) are given at Annexure:

## regarding Benefits\_for\_Old\_Aged Differently\_ Abled Persons= raised\_by\_Hon'ble\_ME;\_SHRL MK RAGHAVANI

Details\_of measures for\_providing\_quality\_transport\_services\_to\_the\_senior\_citizens/differently\_abled persons (including\_differently\_abledpersons \_in wheel chairs)z

## Ministry of Railways:

- i Electric Multiple Unit (EMU) local trains have compartment earmarked for differently abled persons (Divyangjan)
- ii. Unlike other compartments, doorway centre is relocated to the sides to enable entry of wheel chairs. pole
- iii. Disabled  friendly Integral Coach Factory (ICE) designed SLRD (Second class cum Luggage cum Guard Van & Disabled Friendly Compartment) coaches have been incorporated. It is endeavoured to have at least one coach in each Mail/Express train having ICF type coaches. At present; 3519 ICF type SLRD coaches (as on 31.03. 2021) are in the fleet of Indian Railways
- iv. Further; Production units have already started manufacturing LHB Second Luggage, Guard & Divyang Compartment (LSLRD) type coaches for Divyang Passengers which are inducted in IR progressively.
- V So far; nearly 485 LHB type LSLRD/ LDSLR have been manufactured by Production Units  and inducted over Indian Railways and further feration of LSLRD with augmentation in Production Plan has been planned: prolif
- vi. These coaches have a suitable designed compartment & toilet adapted to the needs of the disabled/wheel chair borne passengers: In these coaches, wider entrance door; wider berths, wider compartments; larger lavatory and lavatory doors, etc: have been provided. Inside the toilets additional rails on the side walls for support and wash basin and mirror at a lower height are also available inside the toilets. grab
- vii. In addition to the above further; All Production Units have been advised to provide at least two doors of 920 mm width, one on each side of the coach in future in all newly manufactured coaches. This will ensure improved  accessibility to  Divyangjan passengers inside coaches. AC economy Coaches recently developed and manufactured are equipped with such doors being
- viii. For the assistance Braille   Signage, i.e. Signage superimposed with Braille scripts, are provided in all the newly manufactured coaches. Further; retro-fitment of the same in existing coaches is also continuing in & phased manner: being

## Ministry of Road Transport and Highways:

Ministry of Road Transport and Highways vide GSR notification 959 (E) dated 27th December; 2019 has notified amendments to the Central Motor Vehicles Rules for   providing Divyang   friendly features: Arrangements for priority seats, signs, securing of crutches/caneslwalkers, hand raiVstanchions, controls at priority seats   and wheel chair   entry/housing/locking   arrangement   for wheel chair   for differently  abled passengers Or passengers with reduced mobility to be checked and ensured at the time of fitness inspection.

## Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities:

As per the Accessible India   Campaign (Sugamya Bharat Abhiyan) report launched by Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (DEPwD) updated on 24-08-2021 it has been stated that for the transportation sector; the focus is on providing accessibility in the infrastructure as well as services of the transportation sector as a whole. Thus, Airports, Railway Stations and Bus Terminals as well

- as Carriers (Railway coaches, Buses, etc ) and related services such as ticket booking, enquiries, booking status, booking of special assistance, etc. are made disabled friendly: being
- In the Accessible  India  Campaign  report details of measures laid down for providing quality transport services to the differently abled persons are as follow:
- Delhi Metro Rail Corporation has taken special measures to develop barrier free travel experience for persons with disabilities
- Low height counters for wheelchair users in Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose International Airport; Kolkata
- Aerobridges for obstruction free boarding in Chennai International Airport, Tamil Nadu
- E-Cart services for easy transfers in Devi Ahilya Bai Holekar Airport; Indore; Pradesh Madhya
- Braille Tactile and Braille Indicators/Signage provided the handrail, for ease of navigation in Dehradun Railway Station Maps along

Accessibility features provided in buses

- Wide doors and foldable ramps for ease of boarding by wheelchair users.
- Audio announcement systems and video or digital display of information.
- Emergency response devices alarm buttons and fire extinguishers located at reachable heights
- Reserved space for wheelchair users with secure locks and belts and reserved seating for elderly, pregnant women and persons with disabilities.
- Information (such as seat numbers and steps ahead) made available graphical and braille signage. using

## IV Ministry of Civil Aviation:

As per Annual Report 2020-21 of Ministry of Civil Aviation following measures have been taken for the welfarc of Senior Citizens:

- Remove all physical barriers to facilitate easy entry movement and exit at all airports and in airlines;
- special attention for providing help/assistance to them particularly after alighting from vehicles at the airports and until the person reaches the check-in counters; Pay
- Change the design of the frisking booths in the security hold areas s0 that the elderly are not required to climb and descend while undergoing security checks;
- special attention to the elderly and those needing assistance at the booking offices of airlines; Pay
- Give preference in reservation and earmarking of seats in the airlines;

Apart from these measures Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment provided budgetary support for welfare of senior citizens from Senior Citizens Welfare Fund of Rs 97.80 Lakhs to Ministry of Civil Aviation in the year 2018-19 for 30 Electric Operated Golf Cart for operating them at 8 designated Airports   and to release   funds to Authority of India (AAI) to facilitate the  Senior Citizens movement irrespective of the class of their travel and to achieve desired level of customer satisfaction.

******