My name is Dr.Chandra Shekar Aravala (Physical Therapist/Physiotherapist). I am a gold medalist from former ,President of India, Dr.APJ Abdul Kalam. 

 

 

MPT (Manipal, Gold medalist), Doctorate of Physical Therapy (Arcadia university,USA, distinction). Currently E-Wheelchair service is present in major cities, the coverage is 0.002%. I request the Railway ministry of India, to extend the E-wheelchair service throughout the country (99.99%), without any discrimination. The differently abled, senior citizens, women travelling with small children and sick people, have the right to the # Freedom of movement, equal to the able bodied person. The freedom of movement should be equally available in small villages on par with the big metropolitan cities.

According to the People with disability act, there should be ramps available in public places for wheelchair access. Many railway stations do not have ramps. There are many rural railway stations, where there are no wheelchairs. In cities the Wheelchairs are limited, Example there are nine wheelchairs available in Secunderabad railway station for the number of people travelling and being very busy.

E-Wheelchair services have been started by the Indian railways, which provide the service free of cost to the differently abled, senior citizens, sick and needy (not defined).There are 7,349 railway stations in India, only 22 railway stations have E-Wheelchair service which accounts to 0.002%. Totally 99.99% of the Indian railway stations are deprived of this service. The E-Wheelchair service should be provided in all the railway stations, free of cost or for a nominal fee.

My recent experience : There were stairs in the Amadalavalasa railway station (Srikakulam district), which cannot be accessed by the wheelchair, it is very hard on the knees specially for  senior citizens affected by arthritis, differently abled and women carrying small children. Thanks to honourable MP # Kinjarapu Rammohan Naidu, he constructed a ramp which is better than the stairs. He has been fighting for the development of Srikakulam railway station in the form Sadhana Deeksha. On my recent visit to India, I have had the opportunity to travel from Srikakulam road, Amadalavalasa to Secunderabad by Vishaka express on September, 9th, 2023 along with my father (senior citizen), cousin, sister in law, niece and two toddlers. I observed the following architectural barriers and experienced several difficulties which I believe can be eliminated by certain services and modifications.

Problems experienced by my father: He is a senior citizen suffering from Neuropathy, had both knees replaced secondary to arthritis. He has poor balance and is at high risk for fall (Berg balance score is 20/56). He walks with a cane. As a result of the limitation imposed by his condition, he had difficulty going up and down the 50m steep ramp (approx.) in the railway station. I assisted my father and there was a helper who carried his luggage. Despite all the assistance, it was an inconvenient experience for him. I cannot imagine how another senior citizen who might have similar problem but no assistance will manage to cover this distance.

Problems experienced by my sister in law:

She was carrying a one year old child negotiating the steep ramp. My niece was carrying a another child , working her way through the steep ramp. If this is the state of the elderly and the able bodied people, as a physical therapist, my heart aches to think of the plight of people with disabilities.

Problems experienced by the #Porters: 

Porters carry the heavy loads on their heads,to earn their livelihood. This can cause various musculoskeletal problems like backpain, neck pain, headache, knee pains etc. They cannot do this on the long run.

It can be eliminated by loading the luggage on a mobile device like golf cart. Providing mobile devices in the railway stations there will be reduced disability among the porter friends. Ergonomic training to lift weights correctly by a qualified physiotherapist employed by the central government of India can significantly reduce the disability and medical bills among the porter friends. This will create increased employment opportunities among the physical therapists as well.

Who is impacted? : The population affected by the limited E-wheelchair service (0.002%) is differently abled, senior citizens, women travelling with small children. Due to lack of mobile devices like golf carts, no appropriate training to lift weights by physical therapists porters are being affected significantly.

What will happen if the things remain the same?: There will be increased disability for the differently abled population and senior citizens. Women travelling with children suffer. There will be increased musculoskeletal problems among the porters leading to increased disability.

What can be done to overcome this problem? (Recommended solution)

I request that we all come together and compel the concerned authorities to:

1. Extend E-Wheelchair service to all the railway stations of India
2. Provide Mobile devices like golf carts to load the luggage and carry
3. Ergonomic training to all the porters by Qualified Physical Therapists employed by Central Government of India.
4. What will happen if we bring this change? There will be improved access in the railway stations of India, for the above mentioned population. There will be reduced disability and improved health. There will be increased employment opportunities for the Physical Therapists.  I request Railway ministry of India, to consider the petition and take necessary action. I request everyone to sign this petition and help me in this fight for the #Freedom of movement. "Sarve Jana Sukhinobavanthu"