No quota in trains for patients suffering from arthritis: Rajya Sabha reply

The railways said on Wednesday it had no quota for patients suffering from arthritis and no plans of offering any concession in passenger fare for them as it was already losing revenue over the discounts granted in over 50 categories.

In a reply to a question from Satyapal Singh, Minister of State for Human Resource Development (Higher Education), Rajan Gohain, MoS, Railways said in Rajya Sabha that patients suffering from arthritis can book a berth of their choice (lower berth in this case) on first-come-first-served basis.

“There is no reservation quota earmarked for patients suffering from arthritis...There is no provision for concession in passenger fare for patients suffering from arthritis”, Gohain said.

Singh who is a former police commissioner of Mumbai and a BJP MP from Uttar Pradesh’s Baghpat, also asked the minister why such concession was not given to patients suffering from arthritis.

“Railways are losing substantial revenue on account of concessions granted to more than 50 categories of passengers. Keeping in view the financial constraints on railways, the scope of concession is not being enlarged,” the minister said.

The railways offers concession in fares in 53 categories, including for those with physical and mental disabilities, people suffering from cancer, tuberculosis, thalassemia, senior citizens, farmers, awardees.