Naveen jindal – The accusation by Sminu Jindal that IndiGo damaged her wheelchair during transit has reignited debate on how Indian airlines handle mobility aids and whether current protections are sufficient.
🔍 Broader Issues Raised
- Sminu’s claim—“It’s a repeated trauma that thousands of persons with disabilities face when they fly” — strikes at the heart of systematic insensitivity and operational negligence.
- She emphasized that bending the frame of a wheelchair is often irreversible: “Once its frame is bent, it can never be repaired.”
- Her call to action included creating protected compartments in aircraft holds for wheelchairs and mandatory training to ensure staff treat assistive devices with care and respect.
📣 Responses & Demands
- Public reaction has largely sided with Sminu, with many voices pointing out that accessibility policies often fall short in practice.
- Critics argue that current airline protocols are primarily structured around managing baggage, not fragile, life‑dependent mobility aids.
- Disability rights groups are expected to weigh in, pushing for legally binding norms guaranteeing safe carriage of wheelchairs and compensation for damage.
✅ What Should Happen Next
- The Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) may be compelled to review existing regulations under the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act and issue stricter standards for airlines.
- Airlines may be pressured to adopt audit systems, staff training modules, and better handling infrastructure.
- If unresolved, Sminu or her father might take legal recourse or petition regulators to act.
