While expectant mothers commuting on the WR line are being allowed to board handicapped compartments, the same privilege is being denied to their counterparts on the CR line
While expectant mothers commuting on the WR line are being allowed to board handicapped compartments, the same privilege is being denied to their counterparts on the CR line
Expectantu00a0moms, who have to commute on the Central Railway (CR) network, are outraged that they are not being allowed to travel in handicapped compartments, like their counterparts who travel on the Western Railway (WR) line.
Pregnant women are forced to travel in the general compartment
on the Central Railway line as there is no space in the Ladies compartment
While the WR authorities have given pregnant passengers the green signal to board the special compartments, the authorities at CR are yet to follow suit.
Passenger associations expressed their anger with CR authorities, questioning the discrepant treatment meted out to their passengers.
Madhu Kotian, President of the Mumbai Rail Pravasi Sangh, said, "If the General Manager for both the railway lines is the same, then how is it that the two bodies are treating the same section of women in different ways?"
Kotian added that the recent sanction, passed by CR and WR's General Manager Kul Bhushan, was a result of the untiring efforts made by her association for three long years, and expressed frustration that women using the CR network are now being denied the fruits of their labour.
"The railway authorities follow their own rules here, paying no heed to the needs of different passengers. We will be visiting the DRM office to protest this injustice," she said.
The new edict was passed after the Railways Minister K H Muniyappa visited the city to meet passenger associations, in response to the invitation of MP Sanjay Nirupam.
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At this meeting, which took place at the Borivli station, female passengers put forward the problems they experienced while availing of the train services, emphasising that pregnant passengers be allowed to board the handicapped coaches, as they found it exceedingly difficult to board the crowded general compartments, especially during peak hours.
A senior railway official from the WR said, on condition of anonymity, "When we received the proposal, we held a meeting at which we recognised the request as a genuine one and decided to implement it.
Workingwomen need to commute well into the seventh of eighth month of their pregnancy, and it is our duty to ensure their safety and convenience.
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The handicapped coaches are relatively emptier throughout the day, so we are allowing pregnant women to travel on them."
What about us?
Handicapped passengers, however, have been fiercely opposing this move, with some even planning to move court. Jitendra Karelia, president of the Disability Advocacy Group, said, "We have been asking for bigger, more spacious coaches for years, but the railway authorities never paid any heed to our pleas.
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There have been instances when, during peak hours, passengers with no handicaps have forced their way into coaches that are reserved for us, making us stand while they sit comfortably.
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Commenting on the discrepant treatment meted out to pregnant passengers boarding CR and WR networks, he said, "It seems that CR officials have conducted a survey and discovered that there are no pregnant female passengers on their route. This is really funny."
Officialspeak
V A Malegaonkar, Chief PRO, CR, said, "We have not received any such proposal till date. Once we do, we will definitely think about the matter."
Voices
I had planned to go on working till my 8th month of pregnancy, but I don't see how that will be possible if I have to board the cramped ladies' compartments every day. It seems that God answered the prayers of pregnant women using the WR network, but not ours. Why is this unfair treatment being meted out to us?u00a0
Aarti Singh, 7 months pregnant
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I have boarded the handicapped compartment a number of times, but several passengers kept glaring at me angrily. Since then I have not boarded the handicapped coach, even though WR authorities have officially allowed us to do so.
Shreya Patil, 4 months pregnant
I regularly commute by train between Elphinstone and Parel stations, and notice how difficult it is for pregnant commuters to board the trains during rush hour. I am glad that the new rule has been passed. But why are pregnant women traveling on the CR line not being allowed the same privilege? This is gross injustice.
Purushottam, commuter on WR line
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