Handicapped? No, it’s ‘differently-abled’

The railways have seats reserved for the disabled under the term “Handicapped”, as against the \'differently-abled\' label.

Update: 2019-07-31 22:17 GMT

CHENNAI: While India has always faced flak for being insensitive to the plight of the disabled, a recent allegation by a Chennai student has brought to fore the government's callous attitude towards the community.

Joel Shelton, a social work student of Loyola College, Chennai has pointed out a huge flaw in the newly launched Southern Railways local trains, through a post on his Facebook and Instagram page. The railways have seats reserved for the disabled under the term “Handicapped”, as against the 'differently-abled'  label which is to be used, as per law.

The student also filed a complaint with the authorities at Tiruvallur station and requested the Southern Railways to take necessary action to change the terminology used to address people with disability as “DIFFERENTLY- ABLED” in all the trains operated by the Southern Railways.

This incident further sheds light on the immediate need for sensitisation of the public, when it comes to differently-abled people.

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