The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Chennai News : Singapore Airlines launches service for the differently-abled

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, May 28, 2008
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Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Singapore Airlines launches service for the differently-abled

Staff Reporter

An escort will accompany differently-abled passenger from airport entrance up to the boarding area

— Photo: R. Shivaji Rao

JOINING HANDS: Actor Madhavan greets a person with disabilities at the launch of Singapore Airlines’ special service for differently-abled passengers in Chennai on Tuesday.

Chennai: Singapore Airlines has launched special services for persons with disabilities to ease their air travel.

An escort will accompany the differently-abled passenger from the airport entrance up to the boarding area. The passenger will be given access to the lounge where he or she can wait for the boarding announcement. Priority baggage tags would also be provided to cut down on waiting time.

Singapore Airlines’ general manager (India) C.W.Foo said the airline had also tied up with non-governmental organisation Vidya Sagar to take up awareness programmes for the rights of persons with disabilities.

The airline has chosen Chennai as the first city in the country to offer the services and the programme would be gradually extended to other cities.

Bharat Mahadevan, the airline’s State manager (South India), said solidarity booths to promote awareness of the rights of the differently-abled would be set up in places such as IT parks. Badges made of blue and gold ribbons would be presented to people who came forward to support the cause.

Actor Madhavan pledged his support for the programme. He recalled watching the film ‘Mayuri’ where actor and classical dancer Sudha Chandran, who had lost a leg in an accident, played the central role. “I remember reading her interviews where she said she had to fight her way to be viewed as a normal person. We have come a long way since then… And there is more to be done,” Mr. Madhavan said.

Vidya Sagar’s director Rajul Padmanabhan and assistant coordinator (disability legislation unit) B.Meenakshi welcomed the special services initiative.

More agencies must come forward to provide facilities for people with special needs in order to create an inclusive society, Ms.Meenakshi said.

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