Standard Chartered Bank in a joint venture with Anuprayaas and Samarthanam Trust to make a total of 30 railway stations across the country, accessible for people with disabilities by providing a host of facilities.
The primary aim of this initiative is to help individuals with visual disabilities, those with wheelchairs, and people with hearing impairment to travel independent and with dignity by reducing their dependence on others while travelling.
Let’s have a look at what all facilities will be provided:
- Reflective strips at stairs for people with low vision.
- Braille general signs for facilities like a male-female toilet.
- Braille Maps of the station.
- Braille indicators at platforms and railings to guide and identify platform numbers and facilities.
- Braille information booklets at the Enquiry counters.
- Portable ramp and wheelchair will be made available in order to board the disabled coach.
- Also, QR code to watch the video about the station in sign language.
All facilities will be available at 30 railway stations from April 1, 2022. Thane station(Mumbai) will be the first among the rest to get ready.
“Making railway stations accessible for people with disabilities is a positive step in our journey towards being an inclusive organisation. We always strive to bring the Bank’s here for a good brand promise to life by working towards real change, and this is one such programme. While there is still a long way to go, this project under our Seeing is Believing initiative reaffirms our commitment to increasing Accessibility and dismantling barriers for people with disabilities”
Karun Bhatia, Head of Sustainability, India, Standard Chartered Bank
The major station that will be covered under this project are Egmore, Chennai, Bandra, Mathura, Ahmedabad, Agra, Jaipur, Bhopal, and Secunderabad.
“ We extend our thanks to Standard Chartered Bank for selecting us as an NGO partner to implement the initiative towards creating accessible Railway Stations for People with Disabilities in 30 Railway Stations across 16 States in India. This support will enable People with Disabilities to travel independently with safety, security, and dignity”
Mahantesh G K, Founder Managing Trustee and Samarthanam Trust for the Disabled
Railway stations serve as a major commute medium for travellers with disability in a country that is the second-most populous country globally and home to over 21 million persons with disabilities. And still, it is an irony how there is a lack of accessibility in public places to assist persons with disabilities to travel independently.
“Accessibility in public places is the basic requirement for ensuring inclusion and equality for people with disability in society. We thank Standard Chartered Bank for taking this initiative that supports dignity for people with disability and makes travel safe for them”
Pancham Cajla, Founder of Anuprayaas, Social Organisation working towards making India an accessible and inclusive country
