A specially-abled girl who wishes to travel in a car got her dreams shattered when a car dealer refused to sell a large commercial vehicle that can be modified to fit in a wheelchair to a specially-abled girl for personal use. A notice has been issued by the Delhi Commission for Women (DCW) to the city government’s Transport Department over the issue. The panel stated it has received a representation from the differently abled girl regarding purchasing a modified vehicle for persons with disability. The specially-abled girl named Kajal has submitted that she is suffering from intellectual disability, and cerebral palsy and has restricted mobility. She further stated that she wants to purchase a wheelchair-accessible vehicle in which she will install a manual/hydraulic ramp to improve its accessibility.
However, the car dealer is refusing to sell her the vehicle for private use stating that it is large and the government allows its sale only for commercial purposes, the panel said. She has mentioned that the vehicle is spacious enough to accommodate her motorized wheelchair and there is no other option available in the market for her specific usage.
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She has requested that approval be given to her to purchase the vehicle for her personal use. Also, she has sought approval for modifying the vehicle into a disabled-friendly vehicle by installing a hydraulic lift and other allied features. DCW chief Swati Maliwal visited the girl at her residence and interacted with her and her family. Maliwal took to twitter to show how her family wanted to buy her a Tata Winger to fulfill her dreams.
She went to meet Kajal at her house. Learn to live life from him. She wants to travel around the world by buying a Tata Winger car and getting a lift in it, sitting in a wheelchair with a wheelchair. But the transport department is not allowing him to buy the car! It is his right to roam freely, we have issued notice. pic.twitter.com/pT452KECaJ— Swati Maliwal (@SwatiJaiHind) October 18, 2022
During the interaction, she stated that she has already submitted a request to the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, and her request has been transferred to the Department of Transport, Delhi. Maliwal has recommended to the Transport Department that the request of the girl be taken up on priority and approved urgently.
Further, the Commission has asked the transport department to provide a timeline for granting her the requisite approvals. The Commission has also asked as to what steps have been taken by the department to streamline and ease the process for other such applicants.
It has sought details of guidelines issued by the department to car sellers in this regard. It has also sought the details of steps taken by the department to list such approvals under the flagship scheme of doorstep delivery of services of the Delhi government so that persons with disability are not forced to run around for the same.
The department has been asked to provide an action taken report by October 26.
(With inputs from PTI)