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Disabled Rights Activist Faces Obstacles at Indian Airport

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

The Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) at India's Indira Gandhi International Airport forced disabled rights activist Javed Abidi to get off his wheelchair during a security check, despite guidelines established in 2014 to prevent such scenarios. Abidi was on his way to Colombo for an official meeting and was accompanied by two colleagues. The CISF officials claimed they were following protocol, but Abidi maintained that certain rules exist to facilitate the procedure for people with disabilities. Abidi's experience highlights the challenges faced by individuals with disabilities when traveling through Indian airports. The incident has sparked a discussion about the need for better implementation of accessibility guidelines.

Key Takeaways:

  • Javed Abidi, a disabled rights activist, was forced to get off his wheelchair during a security check at India's Indira Gandhi International Airport, despite existing guidelines to prevent such scenarios.
  • The CISF officials claimed they were following protocol, but Abidi argued that certain rules exist to facilitate the procedure for people with disabilities.
  • Abidi's experience highlights the challenges faced by individuals with disabilities when traveling through Indian airports.
  • The incident has sparked a discussion about the need for better implementation of accessibility guidelines.
  • In 2014, disability activists frame certain guidelines to be followed by the CISF to ensure no discrimination on the basis of disability in air travel.
  • The guidelines stated that no wheelchair user shall be forced to stand and that officials must not attempt to manually lift the wheelchair user.
  • Abidi has alleged that the officials were not cooperative and were rude to him.
  • The CISF has claimed that they were bound by protocol and offered a chair for screening but Abidi refused to move.
  • The Indian government has announced plans to make all airports, major railway stations, and 4,000 key buildings disabled friendly as part of its Accessible India campaign.
  • 75 A1, A and B category railway stations and international airports will be made disabled friendly by July 2016, while domestic terminals by July 2019.
  • Nearly 2.68 crore differently abled people in the country have a reason to cheer with the government's initiative.

Statistics:

  • 2.68 crore: number of differently abled people in India
  • 75: number of A1, A and B category railway stations and international airports to be made disabled friendly by July 2016
  • July 2016: deadline for making public buildings accessible
  • July 2019: deadline for making domestic terminals accessible
  • 100: number of important government buildings to be audited and made accessible in 48 cities
  • 4,800: total number of buildings to be made accessible through retro-fitting

Sources:

  • "Disabled rights activist forced to get off wheelchair at airport" by Times of India (TOI) on [Date]
  • "Government to make all airports, major railway stations and 4,000 key buildings disabled friendly" by TOI on [Date]

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