CISF interacts with the representatives of leading NGOs of PWDs to address the problems of “Passengers with special needs” at Airports

By Newsdesk November 11, 2021 20:30

New Delhi, Nov 11An interaction session on provisions of security checking of Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) at airports, was convened by Shri M. A. Ganapathy, DG, CISF on 11.11.2021 at CISF HQrs, New Delhi which was attended by P. S. Phalnikar, ADG (Airport Sector), other Senior Officers of CISF and ten (10) representatives of leading NGOs. The conference was also attended virtually through video conference by all 64 Chief Airport Security Officers (CASOs) of CISF, Officers of BCAS, MoCA and around 150 representatives of NGOs from across the country working for rights of PWDs.

The aim of this conference was to discuss standardization of the processes across all the airports under CISF security cover in dealing with PWDs, and to minimize the problems faced by them during pre-embarkation security checks at the airports. Through the NGOs, CISF also tried to establish communication with the end users, explaining the security compulsions and best possible efforts being made by CISF at the airports to address the problems of the passengers with special needs. CISF is committed to make air travel a smooth and happy experience and this conference was aimed to further work-out issues in this domain.

The current security guidelines for frisking differently-abled passengers, their equipments like wheelchairs, prosthetics and others were brought in by BCAS following the 2016 Somalia blast where a wheelchair-bound passenger was suspected to have carried out a blast in the aircraft after evading security at the Mogadishu airport.

Based on the existing guidelines prescribed by BCAS for security checks of PWDs at the airports, a presentation was made by DIG/CASO of ASG Mumbai to all the participating stakeholders as to what and how the CISF undertakes security checks of such passengers. The representatives of NGOs were invited to share their experiences and put forth their expectations from CISF aviation security group, regarding the facilitation during security checks of specially abled persons at the airports. They were also encouraged to give suggestions, which would ease the process of security checks for PWDs.

On 3^rd December 2020, CISF Aviation Security Group Hyderabad, airport launched “Swarnim Sewa” wherein, CISF took the initiative to extend assistance to the passengers requiring special attention like senior citizens, specially-abled, expectant mothers etc. Detailed deliberations took place during the conference regarding the extension of “Swarnim Sewa” at the other airports under CISF security cover, which would include development of an app, and a helpline number.

It was also decided to constitute a committee of stakeholders at all airports with reference to the issues faced by PWDs.

There will be increased focus on training and sensitisation of the personnel handling the issues of the PWDs.

A periodic review of the achieved targets and way forward will be done every six (06) months by way of such combined interactions, on a virtual format.

DG, CISF assured the NGO participants that CISF is committed to address the issues related to the differently-abled passengers and all efforts are being made to ensure that they should not face any problem at the airports.