It seems that the government is finally waking up to the woes of the physically-challenged. The bottlenecks in the way of their promotions, due for a long time, are likely to be removed as the Secretary of the Social Justice Department has proposed that excluding the physically-challenged from undergoing the departmental test is a viable option.
Under the present system, the physically-challenged persons have to appear for a departmental test held twice a year, to become eligible for promotion. But the major hurdle for them is its time-schedule, which is from 7 am to 9 am. In districts like Idukki and Wayanad, many of them have to travel 20 to 30 km to reach the examination centres. Because of these issues, many could not attempt the examination, thereby foiling their chances of due promotions.
In this regard, a petition has been filed with the Finance Minister, requesting to revoke the rule of writing a departmental test. The Finance Minister’s office forwarded the petition to the Chief Minister, who sought a clarification from the Chief Secretary, who in turn asked a report in this regard from the Commission for the physically-challenged and the Social Justice Department.
Giving them hope, the Commissioner for the physically-challenged has submitted the report in favour of them stating that it would be of immense help to them, if they were exempted from the test considering their situation. Though this is the case, the report given by the Social Justice Department is a bit apprehensive for them as it did not favour exempting them from the test but the deaf and mute. It is to this report that the Chief Secretary responded negatively stating that it would be more feasible to exclude physically challenged, who is passing through chronic condition from taking the departmental test.
Rasheed Anappara, who filed the petition said that, as the government has pinpointed the flaw in the report submitted by the Social Justice, we believe that the latter would also relent in the end. V N Jeethendran, Director, Social Justice Department, said that the report was submitted by the former director. “I will look into the matter at the earliest,” he promised.