We often hear cases of disable people being harassed at major Indian airports, like Delhi, Mumbai and Ahmedabad, few among many airports overseas Indians routinely use while visiting their motherland. Recent case of Virali Modi, “Disable Rights Activists” drew headlines in Indian papers when she was stopped at Indira Gandhi International Airport, while trying to board a plane to catch a flight to Mumbai. She had to surrender her wheelchair to put it in cargo compartment but was provided with complementary manual wheelchair with a porter. In 2006, Virali had suffered spinal cord injury in 2006 resulting in paralyses, unable to stand-up.
Security staff at Check-In point demanded that she should stand-up for “Mandatory Security Check-Up”, accusing her of acting and drama queen. She was allowed to board the plane after senior staff gave her body check. As she is frequent traveller and have all proper documents pertaining her disable status, she should have body check without getting up, as is the norm at most airports. She complained to Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) awaiting their reply.
I must admit our experience is different. At one time, we used to travel often to Goa and Kerala where we were treated with respect. On one occasion, when I was standing in short queue at Trivandrum airport, to board chartered flight to London, with my Zimmer frame, I was approached by an officer who offered his help to bypass the queue. As there were only few people ahead, I politely declined, believing that I will be able to board soon, did not realize that this was first of five such queues. On the third queue, there were some 100 people. My wife approached the gentleman who first approached us and with his help we avoided all queues and boarded the plane. When I offered him hundred rupees, he politely declined, stating that it is his duty to help people like us!
Bhupendra M. Gandhi
By email
