TN: ‘Govt is Bypassing Quota’ Accused Differently Abled Applicants
Protest outside Madurai Collectorate. Image courtesy: Nambu Rajan
The members of the Tamil Nadu Association for the Rights of All Types of Differently Abled and Caregivers (TARATDAC) staged a demonstration in front of the Madurai Collectorate on January 30. They demanded the authorities follow Section 34 of The Rights of Persons With Disabilities Act, 2016 and implement 4% reservation for the post of Village Assistants.
“Although there were eligible candidates they were not being considered for the posts of Village Assistants,” said A Balamurugan, Madurai urban district secretary of TARATDAC, to NewsClick.
Following the demonstration, a representation was submitted to Madurai Collector S. Aneesh Sekhar. “The collector was indifferent to our plea. He took our memorandum sitting inside his car” said Balamurugan.
Around 50 people participated in the demonstration, including 16 differently-abled people who applied for the positions.
‘BLATANT CORRUPTION’
NewsClick approached Rajendran (40), one of the applicants, and he opined about the corruption in the recruitment for Village Assitant posts in the Madurai district.
He said “we were given training for the job. We fulfilled the criteria. Physically challenged people even rode cycles as part of training. Yet we are not given postings.”
“When we inquired about the jobs we got to know 202 posts were filled and quota for differently abled was bypassed. We were told there are no vacancies left” he added.
“They took the money and gave away posts reserved for differently abled,” he said accusing the local authorities.
“I am from a very poor family. I have done a polytechnic course and I am working under a tailor. If I get this job it will uplift our lives” he added
Rajendran has three children. He is from Theivakulam village, Kallikudi taluka, Madurai district.
‘2016 ACT IS OVERSTEPPED’
TARATDAC condemned the authorities for overstepping the 2016 Right Act and not safeguarding the rights of differently-abled people.
Balamurugan said “The 2016 Act states 4% reservation in public sector jobs and 5% in the private sector. But the government itself is not implementing it, how can we expect it from private companies?”
“It is difficult for differently abled people to find jobs, and this is how the government acts” he added.
“We are gathering information from all districts in Tamil Nadu to find out if they have implemented quota or not,” he said.
TARATDAC is ready to intensify the protest if the reservation is not ensured in the recruitment.
Only upon intervention by the association, in October 2022, a separate column was assigned for differently-abled persons in government job applications.
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