NEW DELHI, Aug 9:
Activists working for rights of the people with disabilities have stressed that security personnel at the airports across the country need to be sensitised towards persons with disabilities to make air travel comfortable, safe and dignified for all, including persons with disabilities.
The Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) had convened a meeting on August 7 to get inputs from the organisations working for the persons with disability with respect to Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for screening such passengers, according to a statement.
The meeting was called in the background of the protests against the “insensitivity and inappropriateness” displayed by security personnel at airports while checking persons with disabilities, which in many instances leave such persons humiliated and traumatised.
The groups working for the persons with disabilities were represented at the meeting by Mr Muralidharan, Assistant Convener of the National Platform for the Rights of the Disabled (NPRD), and Ms Anjlee Agarwal, Executive Director of Samarthyam, National Centre for Accessible Environment.
They said there have been several instances in the recent past where persons with disabilities using artificial legs (prosthetic aid), wheel chair users, and persons with visual impairments have had to undergo ‘indignity’ merely because of lack of awareness, training and sensitivity of the personnel and agencies concerned.
“There are not clear rules/procedures for security checks of persons with disabilities at the airports in the Civil Aviation Rules (CAR) on Carriage by Air Persons with Disability and/or Persons with Reduced Mobility,” they said.
They emphasised that while increasing security threats pose a challenge to security personnel in charge of airport security, procedures have to be so devised that security checks on persons with disabilities are done in a manner which is both dignified and do not in any manner seem to be intrusive of their privacy.
They urged that a system be put in place where prosthesis users, wheelchair users, those using braces, crutches, and other such assistive devices undergo a search without stripping and removing the artificial limb or making them transfer from their wheelchairs.
“These suggested procedures are as per international best practices. They also highlighted issues regarding hidden disabilities like hearing impairment, autism and visible and severed disabilities such as cerebral palsy,” the statement said.
In the meeting, a video on prosthetic aid was also shown to raise awareness among the BCAS decision makers that how difficult and undignified it is to take off the prosthetic limb for the sake of passing it through the X-ray machine. This may also damage the aid while passing in the luggage conveyor belt of the X-ray machine if improperly handled.
They said a sensitisation, refresher/orientating training and Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) amendment in light of the diverse needs of persons with disabilities during security checks should be imparted regularly to all who come in direct contact with the passengers at the airport.
Detailed suggestions from the perspective of persons with diverse disabilities were submitted at the meeting, based on inputs received from several organisations and individuals working in the sector.
“We are hopeful that the BCAS will adopt an SOP which would incorporate practices that would make air travel comfortable, safe and dignified for all, including persons with disabilities,” Mr Muralidharan and Ms Anjlee said.
They suggested that screeners shall be trained to: be courteous and friendly, treat everyone fairly and equally, be respectful throughout the screening process, assess the needs of person to be screened, ask, and not assume the type of assistance needed and provide appropriate screening options.
They also suggested that BCAS must create an internal disciplinary mechanism whereby its officials can be held accountable for any violation of the civil rights of travellers with disabilities and medical conditions. (UNI)
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