It isn’t easy being Physically Challenged in India .

Few days back, I came across a news item in Hindustan Times. It said - Salil Chaturvedi, a person with Paraplegia who represents India in Wheelchair Tennis was flying by SpiceJet from Chennai to Delhi . And he was not provided his wheelchair to disembark from the aircraft. He was cramped in his seat for over an hour after everyone disembarked.

Actually, DGCA (Directorate General of Civil Aviation) rulebook stipulates that a passenger’s wheelchair should be returned to him at the time of disembarking. But clearly the rules were not adhered to.
The incident in Salil’s words tells the shameful story of the state of people with disabilities in India . He says, “I was carried along the aisle by untrained porters like a sack of potatoes while I tried to keep my trousers from slipping and closed my eyes to save myself from the embarrassment as all passengers turned their heads to look at me.”

The Spice Jet authorities apologized to Salil Chaturvedi and said the crew lacked awareness.

No doubt, people lack awareness. But to what extent? I remember, a friend of mine who is visually impaired, once said that sometimes she has to stand on the bus stop for hours together to board the bus just because when the bus comes, people are so busy rushing and pushing to get in to the bus that her feeble voice inquiring the bus number is drowned. As a result, she has to wait until a sensitive passenger or conductor comes along to help her out.

And still, we call ourselves as a civilised society!!! I feel until we recognize human rights and equal opportunities to people with disabilities, we should not claim to be civilized.