Railway Ministry replaces 'mentally retarded' with 'intellectual disability' in concession forms

“We invited the displacement from the ‘R-word’ to ‘intellectual disability’, but the Railways is inactive engaged successful piecemeal corrections,” the manager and prof astatine the University College of Medical Sciences and Guru Teg Bahadur Hospital said. File | Photo Credit: The Hindu

The Railway Ministry has decided to regenerate the word "mentally retarded persons" with "persons with intelligence disability" successful concession forms issued to persons with disabilities seeking discounts successful bid journeys.

"The Ministry of Railways has decided to regenerate the word 'mentally retarded persons who cannot question without an escort' with 'persons with intelligence disablement who cannot question without an escort'," said a ministry circular dated May 9 addressed to the main main commercialized managers of each the railway zones.

Officials said presumption similar "mentally retarded" person antagonistic connotations too sounding offensive.

"The determination was agelong overdue. The caller concession certificate forms volition incorporated the changes from June 1," a railway authoritative said.

However, the circular besides enclosed a revised performa of the concession certificate form, which utilized presumption specified arsenic "handicapped" and "divyangjan" for different disabilities, raising concerns among disablement rights advocates and activists.

"The concession certificate signifier for orthopaedically handicapped/paraplegic (person/patients) who cannot question without an escort/persons with intelligence disabilities who cannot question without an escort/persons with proceeding and code impairment wholly (both afflictions unneurotic successful the aforesaid person)...," the revised proforma read, specifying 3 categories of persons with disabilities who are offered question concessions.

Activists, portion welcoming the changes and saying they should person been implemented earlier, pointed retired immoderate "objectionable" words that inactive stay successful the revised concession form.

“The Ministry of Railways is ever dilatory to respond, but amended precocious than never. The Supreme Court has already issued a handbook connected inclusive language,” they said.

"We invited the displacement from the 'R-word' to 'intellectual disability', but the Railways is inactive engaged successful piecemeal corrections," Satendra Singh, manager and prof astatine the University College of Medical Sciences and Guru Teg Bahadur Hospital, respectively, said.

"Even the revised concession forms proceed to usage euphemistic and arguable presumption similar 'handicapped' and 'divyangjan',” Mr. Singh said.

Some activists said a erstwhile bid from the main commissioner for persons with disabilities banned expressions specified arsenic “handicapped”, portion the United Nations Convention connected the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD), which India has ratified, besides uses the word "persons with disabilities".

The circular, stating different provisions, said, "The certificate already issued successful the aged proforma earlier 01.06.2025 shall stay valid till the expiry of the validity period. There shall beryllium nary alteration successful the railway concession certificate for 'blindness'."

"Zonal railways whitethorn people the revised proforma and marque it disposable astatine each locations/stations to debar inconvenience. Necessary instructions shall beryllium issued to each concerned," it added.

Published - May 14, 2025 11:05 p.m. IST