Railway Ministry replaces 'mentally retarded' with 'intellectual disability' in concession forms

Railway Ministry replaces offensive terms with inclusive language in concession forms for persons with disabilities.

The Railway Ministry has decided to replace the term "mentally retarded persons" with "persons with intellectual disability" in concession forms issued to persons with disabilities seeking discounts in train journeys.

"The Ministry of Railways has decided to replace the term 'mentally retarded persons who cannot travel without an escort' with 'persons with intellectual disability who cannot travel without an escort'," said a ministry circular dated May 9 addressed to the principal chief commercial managers of all the railway zones.

Officials said terms like "mentally retarded" have negative connotations besides sounding offensive.

"The move was long overdue. The new concession certificate forms will incorporate the changes from June 1," a railway official said.

However, the circular also enclosed a revised performa of the concession certificate form, which used terms such as "handicapped" and "divyangjan" for other disabilities, raising concerns among disability rights advocates and activists.

"The concession certificate form for orthopaedically handicapped/paraplegic (person/patients) who cannot travel without an escort/persons with intellectual disabilities who cannot travel without an escort/persons with hearing and speech impairment totally (both afflictions together in the same person)...," the revised proforma read, specifying three categories of persons with disabilities who are offered travel concessions.

Activists, while welcoming the changes and saying they should have been implemented earlier, pointed out some "objectionable" words that still remain in the revised concession form.