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I'm a stand-up comedian and a disability rights activist. I had a harrowing experience at a hostel in Mumbai, where I was denied a bed.
I flew from Hyderabad to Mumbai on 23 November. I had booked a bunk bed in the women's dorm at Namastey Mumbai Backpackers.
I made my hostel bookings from Booking.com, and the only issue that I experienced while booking the bed was that there was no option for a lower bed, so I booked an upper bed. I thought there would be somebody who would be willing to exchange the bed for a night or two.
They told me that staff members may or may not be available but they will help me with the cleaning. So, I was aware of this and did not have to worry about it.
I reached the hostel around 10 pm on 23 November. When I entered, the manager was right there, and I told him about my booking.
He told me that it would be difficult for me to stay over there. He went on to say that I had booked an upper bunk bed and that there was no lower bed available.
I asked him if he could request someone to exchange beds with me. Then, he said that this wasn't about the lower bed but the fact that I would not be comfortable. I told him I would be comfortable.
I would expect an apology from them instead of them being defensive and trying to prove their point because under no circumstance is it fine for them to ask anybody to leave their accommodation at 10:30 at night, especially a person with a disability. I am not using my disability as a victim card, but it does make it difficult for me to navigate a lot of things.
Speaking to The Quint, Abul Choudhary, the manager of Namastey Mumbai Backpackers said, “The website from where the booking was made (Booking.com) mentions that the hostel is not fit for people with disability. The only reason no accommodation was given to Shweta was that there were no lower beds available.”
Upon asking if the hostel is planning to make the space accessible for people with disabilities, Choudhary said, “We’re trying our best to make our hostel inclusive for people with disabilities, but we have our own limitations as the building is very old.”
We, at The Quint, scanned the hostel's website and Booking.com, but no details on accessibility to people with disability is mentioned anywhere.
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