Voices

Hearing impaired discriminated in UPSC!

The National Association of the Deaf took out a march from India Gate to Rajpath on Sunday, December 3 in support of Mani Ram Sharma, a hearing impaired candidate who was denied a service of his choice despite making it to the UPSC merit list.

“Among the four deaf candidates, Mani is the toper. But the Department of Personnel and Training has asked him to be content with Post and Telegraph Accounts Service,” said Javed Abidi, convener of Disability rights Group.

“Another deaf candidate who happens to be 45 ranks below him has been given the India Foreign Service. The next best candidate is seven ranks below him but has been offered the Indian Administrative Service (IAS). The last amongst the four candidates has also been give the Delhi Andaman and Nicobar Police Service (DANP), a service higher than his,” said Javed Abidi.

“The reason given is that he is fully deaf whereas the others are partially deaf. This is not logical as the Disability Act qualifies hearing impairment as a disability. There are no divisions like partially or fully deaf. Nobody can decide whether a person is partially or fully deaf,” Abidi added.

The march started from India Gate at 3 in the afternoon and ended at Rajpath, where the protectors waited to be heard by an official representative. Meera Kumar did hear their plea but after a long wait of about five hours. “We sent six of our representatives and we have been told that the matter will be looked into,” added Abidi.

This is not the first time Sharma has had to suffer. He had also made it to the final list in 2004 but was not allotted a service.

Source: Deaf group marches against UPSD snub. The Hindustan Times, Daily, New Delhi, 4 December 2006.

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Disabled voice grievances

Carrying white flags and banners, around 5,000 disabled people gathered at the India Gate on Sunday, December 3 on the occasion of World Disability Day to press for equal opportunities.

“We are not beggars. What we want is equal opportunities and not the allowance of Rs. 150 given to us every month,” said Kiran Devi.

Protesters shouted slogans and blocked traffic at the India Gate for nearly half an hour as a mark of anger even as children enacted plays depicting their difficulties and daily struggle.

“The government has filed to provide any benefits to the disabled. We are not beggars who want small grants form the government, we need equal opportunities in health, education and employment,” said 31-year-old Vandana Kumari, who has not been heard after repeated efforts.

“We celebrate this day not only to honor and support our friends but also to remind the politicians that if they can work for reservation for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, then they should also strictly implement the three percent reservation made for the disabled people.

For 26-year old Anju Mehta, his dream to join the Indian Administrative Service (IAS) was shattered after he lost his voice due to wrong medication at the age of six.

Even after completing his graduation in history from the University and qualifying the main IAS tests thrice, Anju claimed he had not been given a fair chance to join the service.

According to the 2001 census, there are 22 million disabled people in India.

Source: Equal opportunities urged on Disability Day. Delhi Mid Day, (Mon-Sat), New Delhi, 4 December 2006.

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