Disability Rights Activist Slams Airline For Rs. 2,500 Wheelchair Service

US-Bangla Airlines charged so high for the wheelchair service

On Sunday, Disability rights activist Rajiv Rajan was stunned when US-Bangla Airlines charged him ? 2,500 for the wheelchair service at Chennai airport.

Mr. Rajan, who was dismayed by the treatment meted out to him by the air carrier, had sought wheelchair assistance at Chennai airport to board the flight to Dhaka.

After he protested for his rights, the airlines agreed to refund his money, but allowed him to board the flight only after he signed an indemnity.

Mr. Rajan told NDTV "This is like charging for my disabled legs. This act is illegal and violates the UN Convention on the rights of persons with disability". "It's not only about money. It's all about how you treat a person with disabilities," he said.

Calling it a blatant violation of basic human rights, he is now planning to take up the matter with the relevant authorities.

His wife Meenakshi Rajan, who is also a rights activist, has urged the Civil Aviation Ministry to brief the matter.

"We cannot start all over again. This issue - Airlines charging additional for ground services and taking indemnity (we thought got sorted in 2007). This shall not be the case in 2022 with RPDA 2016 and UNCRPD," she tweeted.

On being asked about the incident, an official at the US Bangla Airlines' Chennai office told NDTV that Mr Rajan was charged ? 2,500 to pay a local airline for its ground support.

"We are an international airline and the charge is nothing but a collection of what we pay a local airline for ground support. This is not a revenue stream for us. For wheelchair services we pay 35 USD actually," the official said.

Notably, the Civil Aviation Ministry in October last year had issued draft guidelines for aviation sector stakeholders such as airlines and airports to ensure disabled people can travel at ease.

The guidelines state that airport operators must make "special arrangements" to facilitate the screening of persons with special needs.

The air carrier should make necessary arrangements if the disabled passengers inform them about their requirements 48 hours before the scheduled departure, the guidelines added.