Railway Reservation for Physically Challenged made easier

Railway Reservation for Physically Challenged made easier

New Delhi: In a much-needed relief to the physically challenged persons availing concessional rail fares, Railways has rationalised provisions for allotment of berths in a sleeper class under such quota by earmarking middle seat for the accompanying passenger.

As per the revised provisions, which are to come into effect from December 22, there will be two types of physically-challenged quota of two berths each — one lower and one middle — in the same cabin.
One will be for physically challenged persons who can utilise concession only when accompanied by an escort and the second for those for whom it is optional to take an escort with them, Railways announced in a release today.

It has also been decided that whenever a physically handicapped person books ticket on concession and if no berth is available in handicapped quota, the system will automatically try to allot the lower berth to the travelling passenger and middle berth to escort, subject to availability of same at the time of booking, the release said.

These changes were necessitated following some cases of the handicapped persons for whom it is optional to take an escort were not allowed to book single berth against this quota on the ground that the second berth will go vacant (as middle berth cannot be allotted to physically handicapped persons) was brought to the notice of the Railway Ministry, it said.

This issue has now been examined by the Ministry of Railways and further rationalisation has been done to ensure optimum allotment and utilisation of handicapped quota, the release said.

According to Railways, the berths for the physically handicapped persons, who can utilise concession only when accompanied by an escort, can be booked on first come first serve basis.

Similarly, for those handicapped persons having option of taking an escort, the berths will be booked together (in the same cabin), it said.

The release also said that at the time of preparation of reservation charts, the untiled lower berths under this quota can be released to physically handicapped passenger(of either category who were kept in general waiting list due to exhaustion of their quota), single senior citizen travelling alone on priority or to waitlisted passengers as per priority.

PTI
Physically Challenged Persons, Railway Reservation, Railways, handicapped persons, PTI News, 

Competent Medical Officer/Board for issuing certificate of disability for the purpose of family pension under rule 54 of CCS (pension) Rules, 1972

Pension Portal Orders : Competent Medical Officer/Board for issuing certificate of disability for the purpose of family pension under rule 54 of CCS (pension) Rules, 1972 – reg.

No.1/18/01-P&PW(E)(VoI.II)
Government of India
Ministry of Personnel. P.G. & Pensions
Department of Pension & Pensioners’ Welfare

3rd Floor, Lok Nayak Bhavan,
Khan Market, New Delhi
the 30th September, 2014

OFFICE MEMORANDUM

Sub: Competent Medical Officer/Board for issuing certificate of disability for the purpose of family pension under rule 54 of CCS (Pension) Rules, 1972 – reg.

The undersigned is directed to state that rule 54 (6) of the CCS (Pension) Rules, 1972 had been amended vide this department’s Notification of even number, dated 25th April, 2008 to change the competent authority to issue a disability certificate from ‘a Medical Officer not below the rank of a Civil Surgeon” to ‘a Medical Board comprising of a Medical Superintendent or a Principal or a Director or head of the Institution or his nominee as Chairman and two other members, out of which at least one shall be a Specialist in the particular area of mental or physical disability including mental retardation’.

2. The above amendment as made in order to comply with the guidelines, dated 18”th February, 2002, issued by the M/o Social Justice and Empowerment in pursuance of Persons with Disabilities (Equal Opportunities, Protection of justify and Full Participation) Rules, 1996.

3. Subsequently, the guidelines, issued vide Ministry of Health and Family Welfare Notification No.S.13020/1/2010. dated 18.6.2010, in pursuance of the Persons with Disabilities (Equal Opportunities. Protection of justify and Full Participation) Rules. 1996, do away with the Medical Board in cases other than those of Multiple Disabilities.

4. It has been decided in consultation with the Ministry of health & Family Welfare and the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment that for grant of family pension under the CCS (Pension) Rules, 1972, the authority competent to issue disability certificate would be as specified in the guidelines issued by the M/o Health & Family Welfare referred to in para 3 above. It has also been decided that for the past cases, the disability certificate issued either in pursuance of the guidelines, dated 18.06.2010 or in pursuance of rule 54(6) of the CCS (Pension) Rules, 1972 shall be acceptable.

sd/-
(D.K. Solanki)
Urder Secretary to the Government of India

Source: http://pensionersportal.gov.in/