GUWAHATI: Disability rights activist Arman Ali accused Air India Express and airport officials in Guwahati of refusing to bring his personal wheelchair on board near his seat, which led to four persons lifting him on another wheelchair and carrying him down the flight of steps from the aircraft after the Delhi-Guwahati flight landed at Guwahati airport at 2am on Tuesday.
Ali alleged that the four persons carried him without “any safety gear”. The Supreme Court order on Jeeja Ghosh case is very clear — not to lift any person with disabilities — even as the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (RPWD) Act also talks about having accessible services, whether it is private or government establishments.
“Being an international airport, Guwahati airport should have all the basic infrastructure and it’s the responsibility of the operator who is handling the airport right now. This treatment is inhumane and compromises the dignity and safety of differently-abled individuals,” he said.
“Providing a ramp or ambulift to passengers is the primary responsibility of the airline concerned. Though one agency provides ambulift facility at Guwahati airport, it was not provided in the case of Arman Ali,” said an spokesperson for the airport, adding that the airlines has to pay for the ambulift service. The airlines declined to comment on the incident despite repeated appeals.
Ali alleged that it’s a violation of DGCA guidelines and the RPWD Act as he experienced how it feels to be lifted like baggage. “When we landed at Guwahati airport around 2 in the morning on Tuesday, the ground staff first refused to bring my wheelchair, which was there in the hold despite telling them when I boarded the flight. Later, they said they cannot bring my wheelchair and would carry me down as there was no ambulift,” said Arman.
Ambulifts are designed to transport passengers with disabilities to and from aircraft during air travel.
In Delhi, Arman used the aerobridge with all other passengers to board the flight but in Guwahati, the aerobridge was not available during deboarding.
Ali said he communicated with Guwahati airport management several times in last few months to make the airport friendly for people with disabilities. “Despite previous efforts and communication with the disability commissioner, Assam, Guwahati airport continues to ignore accessibility issues and Supreme Court mandates,” he alleged.
“This incident serves as a wake-up call for the entire aviation industry. Differently-abled passengers deserve respect and dignity, not to be treated as inconveniences,” he added.
Ali alleged that the four persons carried him without “any safety gear”. The Supreme Court order on Jeeja Ghosh case is very clear — not to lift any person with disabilities — even as the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (RPWD) Act also talks about having accessible services, whether it is private or government establishments.
“Being an international airport, Guwahati airport should have all the basic infrastructure and it’s the responsibility of the operator who is handling the airport right now. This treatment is inhumane and compromises the dignity and safety of differently-abled individuals,” he said.
“Providing a ramp or ambulift to passengers is the primary responsibility of the airline concerned. Though one agency provides ambulift facility at Guwahati airport, it was not provided in the case of Arman Ali,” said an spokesperson for the airport, adding that the airlines has to pay for the ambulift service. The airlines declined to comment on the incident despite repeated appeals.
Ali alleged that it’s a violation of DGCA guidelines and the RPWD Act as he experienced how it feels to be lifted like baggage. “When we landed at Guwahati airport around 2 in the morning on Tuesday, the ground staff first refused to bring my wheelchair, which was there in the hold despite telling them when I boarded the flight. Later, they said they cannot bring my wheelchair and would carry me down as there was no ambulift,” said Arman.
Ambulifts are designed to transport passengers with disabilities to and from aircraft during air travel.
In Delhi, Arman used the aerobridge with all other passengers to board the flight but in Guwahati, the aerobridge was not available during deboarding.
Ali said he communicated with Guwahati airport management several times in last few months to make the airport friendly for people with disabilities. “Despite previous efforts and communication with the disability commissioner, Assam, Guwahati airport continues to ignore accessibility issues and Supreme Court mandates,” he alleged.
“This incident serves as a wake-up call for the entire aviation industry. Differently-abled passengers deserve respect and dignity, not to be treated as inconveniences,” he added.
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