As a society, we still have a long way to go before we can claim to be truly inclusive when it comes to people with disabilities. Far from being disabled-friendly, many of our facilities and laws only serve to restrict those who are differently abled. But the good news is, one such draconian rule has finally been revoked — On June 7, a Government Resolution was passed to allow disabled persons to travel alone without an escort if they wish to do so.

This decision came just days after a Mumbaikar was slapped with a Rs 800 fine just because he was travelling in a train without an escort. In a front-page report yesterday, this paper highlighted the distressing experience 45-year-old Victor Rodrigues had with the Konkan Railway. Victor walks with a crutch, but does not depend on anyone for his day-to-day affairs. Even though Victor seemed perfectly independent, the ticket checker (TC) threw the rulebook at him and fined him for travelling without an escort and breaking an outdated railways regulation. Thankfully, this rule has now been revoked.