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.
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Here is waht Lonely Planet says about Disabled Travellers in Mumbai:
"Mumbai's crowded public transport, crush of people and poor urban planning can test even the hardiest traveller. If you have a physical disability or are vision-impaired, these pose even more of a challenge. However, seeing the way the mobility-impaired locals whizz through city traffic in modified bicycles proves that nothing is impossible.
Steps and stairs are major obstacles. Most buildings are reached via steps, and elevators - where they exist- often stop inexplicably on mezzanines between floors. Pavement ramps are non-existent and taxis have a lot less space for wheelchairs since the introduction of environmentally-friendly LPG canisters in the boot. However, there are a few wheelchair-friendly restaurants, offices and hotels (mostly top end). Try to book ground-floor hotel rooms and if you use crutches, bring along spare rubber caps for the tips, as they can wear down quickly in India. If your mobility is considerably restricted you may like to consider travelling with an able-bodied companion. Hiring a car with driver will make moving around a whole lot easier than relying on taxis and public transport." (Source: www.lonelyplanet.com)
This is a reality check for Mumbai's Shanghai dreams!
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