Now Reading: Centre agrees in principle to rail concessions for acid attack survivors
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Centre agrees in principle to rail concessions for acid attack survivors
Centre agrees in principle to rail concessions for acid attack survivors
The Centre told the Supreme Court on Thursday that it has agreed in principle to give railway travel concessions to acid attack survivors, but under the 'patient category' and not the disabled…
The Story in Brief
The Centre told the Supreme Court on Thursday that it has agreed in principle to give railway travel concessions to acid attack survivors, but under the 'patient category' and not the disabled category. The court asked the Railways to file a draft policy within six weeks. Additional Solicitor General Archana Pathak Dave said the government had reservations about placing survivors in the disabled category because other disabled groups do not get such concessions.
The concession aims to help survivors travel to well-equipped hospitals in cities for periodic treatment, which often requires multiple reconstructive surgeries. The court had earlier sought the Centre's views on a PIL by Atijeevan Society seeking concessional AC class fares. The Railways said it was still deliberating on the modalities of how the benefit would be given.
The Indian Opinion
The move is welcome, but the government's hesitation to include acid attack survivors in the disabled category for railway concessions raises a fair question: if they are legally recognised as disabled, why deny them the same class of benefits? Other disability groups may also have valid needs. The real test is not the category label but whether the policy, once drafted in six weeks, actually covers AC class travel at a meaningful discount. Will survivors see real relief, or just another bureaucratic box?
Sources (2): deccanherald.com, timesnownews.com
This story was synthesised by AI from the 2 sources linked above.
