This blog post isn’t to gain popularity or make a name in the Writing world. This is written by me just to let people know what happens in the Local Trains of Mumbai. Mumbai is very famous for its Mumbai Local Train or Virar Local as a matter of fact. The Railway is famous for being late, for having rushed trains, for not working as per the salary they are paid and many other negative aspects. We never appreciate the fact that they have good facilities in trains like Duronto Express, Rajdhaani and other Mail Trains. Though I know most of us must have suffered a lot in mail trains from bad seats to dirty washrooms. But still we should know to appreciate them…? Anyway, that’s not the topic of discussion.
Mumbai Local Trains have dedicated coaches for Handicap people. Most of the new travelers won’t realize it and would think, ‘Wow! The train is so empty at a peak hour!’ Well no, it’s not a general coach or coach for gents or ladies or luggage, it’s a DEDICATED COACH for HANDICAP PEOPLE – (Yes, I was yelling in the Shouty Capitals). It is sad to see normal or non-handicap people to get in the Handicap Coach. No one dares to get in the Ladies first Class, or Ladies Coach, but they have guts to get in the Handicap Coach, where they know that no one will kick them out (All weak People in the Coach Right?) Well yeah, they all are physically weak but they have a will-power that most of us lack. They are surviving with Cancer, Paralysis, Polio, Blindness, etc. Railway has made the dedicated coach for them so that they have a secured place in the trains and they don’t get trampled in the crowd of the Mumbai Locals.
In spite of continuous announcements on the platform about People without a Handicap Certificate shouldn’t get in the coach or they will be fined Rs… (Whatever) people get in and act as if the compartment is for Normal People. No it is not it is meant for NORMAL PEOPLE. HANDICAP People deserve at least one coach in the entire train (Second Handicap Coach is dedicated for Senior Citizens), don’t they?
It is not only the passenger’s fault but also the RPF and Police’s fault. There are TC’s and RPF uniformed members in the train all day (non-peak hours) but they are never there in the Handicap Coach… Why??? Why can’t there be a TC or a RPF Member in the Handicap Coach all the time? Why can’t we have security for the handicap people of the society? Why can’t penalties be strictly followed? Why can’t we have some real nice way to stop the NORMAL PEOPLE like me and the others to get in the Handicap Coaches? Why can’t the society and people in the society be sensible enough to not get into a dedicated coach for the (just) Physically Weak People? Why are the handicaps people punished and asked to keep their mouth shut when NORMAL people get in? Why can’t some people have brains and use it and have some feelings for these handicap people?
Trust me, these handicap Peoples are more hardworking than any other normal person. My appeal to the entire India is: “PLEASE For the sake of God or any one whom you love a lot, Let the Handicap Coach be for them COMPLETELY. Please let them stay at peace. If you think you will get a train that will be packed, leave your house early and not over-crowd the handicap Coach. Railway: Please have more security for the handicap people. Please allot RPF or TCs for handicap coaches. Please FINE the people royally and make it a point that they don’t get in the train next time. Please make sure that like all the other passengers, handicap people also get their rights.”
Everyone has a right to smile and be happy. These people are already tired of life; they are tired of living a life with the help of others. They need to smile. None of us can afford them to have a high blood pressure in the middle of a train journey, do we?
