Kerala: Cards take too long to reach disabled

Kochi: After the row over shifting of emergency quota allocation from Ernakulam, the railways has started processing the concession card allotment for differently-abled category at  the Thiruvananthapuram headquarters and the  beneficiaries have alleged  “undue” delay in getting the cards. “Earlier, we used to submit application forms at the area manager’s office at Ernakulam Junction and get the cards in a week. Now it takes up to two months for its processing. This even as in Ernakulam district alone  there are 24,000 people, including 12,000 children, with locomotor disability besides categories like deaf and dumb,” said Dr P.A. Mary Anitha, chairman, Centre for Empowerment and Enrichment (CEFEE).

The CEFEE initiates to help inmates and students of various institutions of mentally and physically challenged in the district to help various benefits provided by the government to such category.  The beneficiaries will get up to 75 per cent discount for travel in trains. A person escorting them will also get a similar benefit. “I had submitted 3720 applications four months back at Ernakulam and got the allocations in a week. There were many clarifications which could be easily communicated if the facility is offered here. Now the communication from Thiruvanantha-puram is over mails and letter and the same consumes much time. Besides, one centre is now bombarded with applications of all the 14 districts  against the railway policy of decentralisation of work,” she said.

However, the railways denied the charges and said the measure was taken based on a Railway Board decision in October, 2017. “The Senior Divisional Commercial Manager should sign the applications after checking the  veracity of the claims. This was effected to bring in more transparency,” a railway spokesperson said.  Also, the applicants need not travel to Thiruvananthapuram. They can submit the same to the deputy station managers at eight stations namely Nagercoil, Thiruvananthapruam, Kollam, Alappuzha, Kottayam, Ernakulam and Thrissur.  “The applications will be collected and sent  to the headquarters for processing. After the allocation, the cards will be returned to these points from where the beneficiaries can collect the same,” he said.