New Delhi: The Indian Railways has done away with the exemption that many passengers get on train tickets. Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnav told the Lok Sabha last week that due to the Corona epidemic, on March 20, 2020, the railways had banned several exemptions and there is no proposal to lift the ban at the moment. Earlier, the railways used to give some discounts on train tickets to the elderly people, but now this is also banned. According to the Railway Ministry, before Corona, the railways used to give discounts on train tickets in 53 categories. But Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnav said that at present only 4 categories of handicapped and 11 categories of patients and students are getting the exemption.
Who are the people getting the concession now?
1- Handicapped:-
* A discount in fare is available to physically challenged persons who cannot travel without an associate. Such people get up to 50 per cent discount in first and second AC and up to 75 per cent in rest of the class.
* The blind also get a discount of 25 per cent on the tickets of Rajdhani and Shatabdi trains for 3rd AC and Kursi vehicles. This concession is also available to a person travelling with a blind person.
* A mentally challenged person and a partner travelling with him get a discount of 50% on monthly and quarterly passes.
* A deaf and dumb person and a passenger travelling with him are also given a discount of 50 per cent on train tickets and monthly or quarterly passes.
2- Patient:-
* A cancer patient and his fellow passenger travelling for the purpose of investigation or treatment get a discount of 75 per cent. This discount lasts up to 100% in the sleeper and third AC. While first and second AC gets a discount of 50 per cent.
• Thalassemia patients also get a discount of 50% on first and second AC tickets and 75% off on remaining class tickets. This discount is also available to those who travel with him. The same exemption is also available to patients suffering from heart and kidney problems.
* A patient with haemophilia and a passenger travelling with him get a discount of 75% on the train ticket. There is no discount on the first or second AC ticket.
* Patients suffering from TB or Lupus vulgaris get a 75 per cent discount on tickets on travel for treatment or screening. The same exemption is also available to leprosy patients. These patients are not given any exemption on first or second AC tickets.
* AIDS and Austomy patients are given a discount of 50 per cent on second class tickets. Such patients also get a discount of 50 per cent on making monthly and quarterly passes.
* Patients with aplastic anaemia and sickle cell anaemia are given a discount of 50% on the sleeper, AC 2 tier, 3rd AC, chair category tickets. However, these exemptions are only available when patients travel to a recognised hospital by mail or express trains for treatment.
The discounts that these people get are now closed:-
* Senior citizens: Older men above 60 years have stopped getting 40 per cent discount on rent and older women above 58 years have stopped getting 50 per cent discount.
Recipients of awards: Winners of the President's Police Medal and Indian Police Award get a concession in the fare after 60 years. Men were given a 50 per cent discount and women 60 per cent. Shram Award winners got 75 per cent discount, National Award-winning teachers 50 per cent and National Bravery Award winners 50 per cent.
Widows of War Martyrs: The policemen martyred in terrorist or militant incidents or the wives of martyred soldiers of the Para Military Force were given a discount of 75 per cent in second class and sleepers. The wives of soldiers martyred in the Kargil war and the action in Sri Lanka also got the same exemption.
* Students: Students going on their home or academic tours used to get a discount of up to 50-75 per cent. Students of government schools in rural areas used to get a discount of 75 per cent on second class tickets to go on an academic tour once a year. At the same time, students of government schools in rural areas also had the same exemption. Students appearing for the UPSC or SSC examination used to get a discount of 50 per cent in the second class. Scholars up to the age of 35 years, foreign students participating in the government of India's programmes were also given a discount of 50 per cent on second and sleeper class tickets.
* Youth: The youth going to participate in the programmes of the National Youth Project and The Manav Utthan Samiti used to get a discount of 40 to 50 per cent. The youth who were going for central or state government job interviews were exempted from 50 to 100 per cent. Scouts and guides for scouting duty also had a 50 per cent discount in second and sleeper classes.
* Farmers: Farmers going to participate in the exhibition had a discount of 25 per cent in second and sleeper classes. Farmers travelling in special trains of the government used to get 33 per cent discount. Farmer passengers who visited farming or dairy institutions were given a discount of 50 per cent on second and sleeper class tickets.
* Artists and sportspersons: The actors going for the performance and the technician associated with the film used to get a discount of 50-75%. Players participating in state or national level tournaments also got a discount of 50 to 75 per cent.
* Journalists: Journalists accredited by the central or state government used to get a discount of 50 per cent in fares on travelling for media-related work. The journalist could travel twice a year with his wife and child at a discount.
* Doctor-Medical Staff: Allopathic doctors travelling for any purpose used to get a discount of 10 per cent on tickets. In addition, the nurse also got a discount of 25 per cent on the second and sleeper class tickets for leave or duty.
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