The Hindu : National : Lalu's assurance to the physically challenged

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Feb 10, 2006

National

National

Lalu's assurance to the physically challenged

Special Correspondent

`Non-implementation of the Disability Act in Indian Railways will be looked into'

NEW DELHI: The Disabled Rights Group (DRG) on Thursday claimed that Railway Minister Lalu Prasad had assured the disability sector that issues relating to the non-implementation of the 10-year-old Disability Act in the railways would be looked into ahead of the Railway Budget.

In a statement issued here after a meeting with Mr. Prasad, DRG convenor Javed Abidi said the "breakthrough" was achieved after an impromptu dharna staged by disability sector activists outside the North Railway headquarters on Tuesday.

One of the demands placed by the sector was a personal meeting with Mr. Prasad. This demand was acceded to by the Minister and at the meeting the two sides discussed in detail the list of identified jobs for physically challenged people pending for over five years now.

Other issues raised included a special recruitment drive to ensure compliance of the 3 per cent job quota in the railways, and setting up of a high power committee to ensure better access for the physically challenged in trains and on platforms.

The Minister, according to Mr. Abidi, promised a formal meeting between Railway Ministry officials and representatives of the disability sector before the Budget session so as to address the issues raised by DRG and other such organisations. Some of the other demands include uniform concessions for all categories of persons with disabilities, concessions for them in Rajdhanis and Shatabdis, and making "disability" a priority area for development in the Railway Budget.

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