India’s Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) missed the
deadline to reply to a notice issued by the Court of CCPD on frisking of
passengers with disabilities.
Last month, the Court of the Chief Commissioner for Persons with
Disabilities issued notices to both Directorate General of Civil
Aviation and Bureau of Civil Aviation Security to ensure they do not
harass passengers with disabilities, giving both governmental entities
30 days to respond.
The notice was issued following the complaint filed by Dr Satendra
Singh, a medical doctor at the University College of Medical Sciences
and Guru Tegh Bahadur Hospital, Delhi.
Last February, Dr Singh was harassed and humiliated by personnel
manning the security check-point at Hyderabad Rajiv Gandhi International
Airport.
“This February, I was called for an International Conference on
Disability and on my return from Hyderabad International airport, I was
harassed by security officials,” Dr Singh said. “I told them that it
will be difficult for me to take off my orthosis. I politely told them
that I am not saying no to security and asked them to screen me with ETD
(Explosives Trace Detector Test). I even allowed physical frisking but
they were hell bent on removal of my orthosis.” Notably, security
guidelines state that removal of prosthesis is not necessary.
The disability activist, who was awarded the prestigious NCPEDP MphasiS Universal Design Awards in 2013 for his exemplary work 
towards
the cause of accessibility and promoting equality and dignity for
persons with disabilities, stood his ground. “Being aware of my rights I
refused and finally they scanned me with ETD,” he said. Dr Singh was
cleared by security and went on to catch his flight.
towards
the cause of accessibility and promoting equality and dignity for
persons with disabilities, stood his ground. “Being aware of my rights I
refused and finally they scanned me with ETD,” he said. Dr Singh was
cleared by security and went on to catch his flight.
Upon his return, Dr Satendra Singh complained to the disability
watchdog Court of Chief Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities
(CCPD), CISF (Central Industrial Security Force), BCAS (Bureau of Civil
Aviation Security), the Ministry of Civil Aviation, and Directorate
General of Civil Aviation (DGCA).
"Only CISF took note of my complaint and invited me to share my
experiences in a workshop on soft skills," he said. "Neither DGCA nor
Ministry of Civil Aviation responded to my harassment complaint."
DGCA has not responded to the Court of CCPD and 30 days deadline is
over. BCAS has responded failing to provide evidence suggesting that
incidents like the one Dr Singh reported will not happen in future.
Despite the deafening silence of DGCA, Dr Singh is far from over. "I
have submitted my rejoinder requesting Court to make sure both DGCA and
BCAS amend their rustic screening rules, modify guidelines taking UN
Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities into
consideration."
Las July, India’s Minister of Civil Aviation Shri Ashok Gajapathi
Raju Pusapati launched a nationwide initiative to elevate standards of
service for vulnerable passengers. However, the Ministry’s silence on Dr
Singh’s complaint is in stark contrast with the directive. DGCA was not
available for comments.
“It is not acceptable for the DGCA nor Ministry of Civil Aviation to
ignore a serious disability related complaint,” Reduced Mobility Rights
Director Roberto Castiglioni said. “Our only hope is that this is due to
an oversight, and a strong and positive response is forthcoming.”
Source : Reduce Mobility Rights , 3rd Oct 2014
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