SubscribeA peculiar form of ghetto policy has been promulgated on "as many as 133 trains under Southern Railway's jurisdiction" reports India Times from Chennai.
The TN Association for the Welfare of the Physically Handicapped (TNAWPH) and the TN Disabled people Graduates and Physically Handicapped Welfare Association have protested against the move and have demanded that the railways scrap the new system and allow handicapped persons with general tickets to travel in the coaches in long-distance trains.
The policy implemented on August 1 reverses previous practice.
"Railway Protection Force (RPF) personnel and guards have thrown out several physically disabled persons from the coach stating that they were not holding reserved tickets," said K Gopinath, state deputy general secretary, TNAWPH.
"I was thrown out of the Rockfort Express in Tiruchy because I had only unreserved tickets. The Railway Protection Force (RPF) not only did not allow me to travel but also detained me till the train left the station because I created a ruckus and pulled the chain," said R Thangam, state president, TN Disabled people Graduates and Physically Handicapped Welfare Association.
"If the physically challenged reservation is not utilised or partially utilised, the vacant berths can be used by physically handicapped persons travelling unreserved. If the berths are vacant, physically disabled persons can board the coach with unreserved tickets enroute," [Southern Railway's chief public relations officer A J] Accamma said.
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