Addressing Accessibility Issues for Disabled Travelers at Railway Stations*
Dear Friends,
I am writing to share an important experience from the 18th and 19th of May, 2024. Mr. Sunil Abbas, a prominent deafblind leader, and I attended the 2nd Deaf Cricket Tournament in Nasik as guests. The event was wonderfully organized by the Mumbai Association of Cricket Deaf (MACD) with support from SEDB. Special thanks to Mr. Raju and Mr. Sadik Pathan, GS of MACD. We had a fantastic time watching the matches and were grateful for the support of all donors who encouraged the deaf cricketers and sponsored the event.
However, upon our return to Mumbai on the 20th of May, we encountered significant issues at the CSMT railway station. After arriving early in the morning, we attempted to book the AC waiting room to rest before catching our train to Chennai. Unfortunately, we were informed by the receptionist that the AC waiting room was full and were directed to the sleeper waiting room instead. We felt that this treatment was due to our disabilities, as the receptionist seemed to assume that a deafblind traveler would not be able to use the facilities properly.
Sunil advocated for our right to stay in the AC room, but we were still denied access. We then went to Dadar and faced similar discrimination, being pushed out of the AC waiting room despite arguing for our rights for 30 minutes. The receptionist scolded us and insisted we stay in the sleeper waiting room. This experience made us feel disrespected and disregarded.
It is crucial that Indian Railways and the Ministry of Railways address this issue. Airports have accessible toilet facilities for disabled travelers, and trains are becoming more accessible. However, the lack of accessible AC waiting rooms for disabled travelers is a significant oversight. Given the extreme heat in Mumbai, it is especially important that all travelers, including those with disabilities, have access to comfortable and accessible waiting areas.
We urge the Ministry of Railways to ensure that accessible and comfortable accommodations are available for disabled travelers in the future. Thank you for your support in this matter.
Yours sincerely,
Zamir Dhale
Founder, Director, and Consultant
Society for the Empowerment of the Deaf-Blind (SEDB) India