Indian Railways: The Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities Department (PWD) has asked stakeholders and the public to provide comments, objections and suggestions by January 29 on the proposed guidelines to create a conducive environment for disabled people using the railways. The proposed guidelines also mention the need for a dedicated website for ‘Divyangjan’ to help them access all facilities.
Indian Railways: The Central Government has issued draft guidelines to make rail travel more convenient for disabled people. This includes providing better facilities at railway stations and trains as well as ‘text-to-speech’ (a feature in which when a person writes on the screen, it is converted into an audible sound so that other people can hear it) and Emphasis has been laid on the need to provide technology based facilities like user friendly ‘pictograms’ or ‘image charts’.
The Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (PWD) has asked stakeholders and the public to provide comments, objections and suggestions by January 29 on the proposed guidelines to create a conducive environment for disabled people using the railways. The proposed guidelines also mention the need for a dedicated website for ‘Divyangjan’ to help them access all facilities.
According to the draft guidelines, these features will be based on the principles of features used in other countries of the world and the website will be in line with World Wide Web guidelines, including features like ‘text-to-speech’ and ‘graphics’.
There will be a mobile app for disabled people.
The draft also includes creating a dedicated mobile app and ‘one-click template’ for disabled people, which will display all the information and facilities available to them at the stations as well as in the train. It has also been proposed to install illuminated sign boards at all stations which will also have ‘Braille signs’. Counter personnel will be trained in sign language to ensure effective communication with persons with disabilities.
The guidelines recommend making entry and exit at railway stations and trains accessible, installing ramps and handrails and making parking facilities with clear sign boards accessible to the disabled. As per the draft guidelines, low height ticket counters and assistance booths in the name of ‘Divyangjan Sahayaks’ have also been proposed. In these guidelines, emphasis has also been laid on creating barrier-free areas on platforms, accessible toilets, drinking water booths and ‘foot-over bridges’. The guidelines mention the need for accessible lift facilities and better management of lighting on platforms.
