Patna: Differently-abled activist Saurabh Kumar has finally got assurances from Patna civil surgeon Pramod Jha that help would be provided to him in the rectification of errors in his rail concession certificate. The Telegraph had highlighted the plight of Saurabh, who alleged ill-treatment by authorities when he visited a health facility for correction of errors in his certificate in the article "Misbehaviour slur on health centre" published on January 6.
Civil surgeon Jha said on Saturday that health minister Mangal Pandey directed him in writing to address the problem of Saurabh on an urgent basis. "I have asked the urban primary health centre in-charge to rectify the errors in the rail concession certificate of Saurabh at the earliest. The railways have brought out a new circular as per which the doctor concerned has to put a seal on the rail concession certificate that should mention the full name and the registration number of the doctor. In Saurabh's case, he had to face problems because of the unawareness of the new rule by the doctor. I have asked the doctor to make a seal which should have his full name and registration number, all this would take a week's time though," said Jha.
Saurabh met health minister Pandey along with other differently-abled people on Friday. Earlier, Saurabh, 27, who runs NGO Toshiyas which works for the welfare of the differently-abled, had also written to chief minister Nitish Kumar as well as the governor on January 4 that the Danapur division of East Central Railway had rejected his application for a smart card because of errors in the rail concession certificate issued by an urban primary health centre in Patna.
Saurabh said he was contented that the civil surgeon had taken up his matter but he speculated that many other differently-abled people in rural areas might have to face problems. "I had to face problems while living in the state capital. Imagine the condition of my counterparts who live in rural areas. Whom would they approach? I urge the government to make a helpline for addressing our problems. If the government has decided to form a separate directorate to deal with differently-abled people, it should expedite the process," he added.