No courtesy for the disabled at passport office

Charanjit Singh Teja

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Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, November 16

The authorities at Passport Seva Kendra have shown no courtesy for the disabled and physically challenged visitors. The chair escalator, which helps the physically challenged persons to reach the passport office, has been lying defunct for the past several months.

Today, a local resident, who was physically challenged, struggled for three hours to enter the passport office as the security staff allegedly denied to provide him with a wheelchair.

Baljeet Singh, a resident of the Islam Ganj area, reached Passport Seva Kendra on his three-wheeler scooter at around 11 am. He requested the security staff and those manning the reception to provide him with a wheelchair, so he can meet the officials concerned. The staff allegedly denied.

Baljit Singh said: “I have filed an application for renewal of my passport some days ago. I got a letter in which it was informed that my appointment had been scheduled for 12:15 pm today. I reached here at 11am, one hour before the appointment. But when I requested the reception staff to provide me with a wheelchair, the woman at the reception desk told me that they had only one wheelchair and someone was already using it”.

The passport office is located on upper floors. Ignoring inconvenience to physically challenged visitors, the authorities have not construct a ramp. The authorities have got a chair escalator installed along with the stairs but it has been lying defunct for the past several months.

“It is fine if the chair escalator is not working. The authorities should make alternative arrangements for physically challenged persons. They do not provide a wheelchair even on demand. The authorities should repair the chair escalator and provide wheelchairs to physically challenged visitors. They should also construct a ramp,” said Baljeet Singh.

Finally after three hours, Baljeet Singh got a wheelchair and he entered the office.