SHILLONG: The World Disability Day was celebrated on Monday, but there is no end to the plight of the disabled.
Elkin Rynniaw, President of All Meghalaya Association of Persons with Disability (AMAPD ) said a day after the celebration on December 4, Dashisha (name changed), a person with loco motor disability (wheelchair user) waited for taxi from Laitumkhrah Beat House for 30 minutes. Since she was not getting a taxi, she boarded on the JNURM Bus No. ML-01 7649 and on entering the bus with great difficulty, it was noticed that all the front seats were filled and few backseats were empty. As she was awarle that two front seats were reserved for disability and aged category, she asked the conductor about the reserved seats. He replied “I don’t know”.
She explained to him regarding the reservation seat but he did not take any action and the young lady in the reserved seat too was not bothered to help or exchange her seat. Some passengers behind were kind and they called Dashisha to sit behind and she told them the back seats are high and she would not be able to climb.
So from Laitumkhrah, she reached Motphran in sitting position holding the rods for support.
In this context, All Meghalaya Association of Person with Disability requested the Transport Department to ensure that all drivers and conductors of public buses are made aware of the reservation seats and the law must be implemented in letter and spirit.
The AMAPD also appealed to general public to be sensitive on the matter.
