🚨 Controversy Alert! 😱 Biocon’s Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw sparked a 🔥 debate on X, suggesting airlines charge ₹5,000 for wheelchair assistance on India-US flights to stop “scamming” by able-bodied passengers. Her post, citing a viral video claiming 30% of Air India flyers misuse the service for priority boarding, racked up 430+ replies! ✈️
Critics slammed the idea as “insensitive” & “elitist,” saying it unfairly targets elderly Indian parents—often first-time travelers—navigating language barriers & massive airports. 🧳 @Raghave4568 shared, “Most Indian parents don’t know English… kids book wheelchairs for their safety!” Others admitted using it for non-English-speaking relatives at hubs like Frankfurt. 😔
Supporters want reform, like paid “assisted journey” services or medical certificates for free access. @Tushargeekmehta called ₹5,000 “peanuts” for NRIs & urged Air India to step up. But some called out “racist trolls” tying it to H-1B visas. 😡
This clash over accessibility vs. equity has everyone talking! 🗣️ What’s your take? Should airlines charge for wheelchair services, or is there a better fix? 👇 #AirIndia #TravelDebate #IndiaUS