BENGALURU: Santosh Kumar (25), a resident of Magadi road, has represented the country in special games for the differently abled held in Greece and Australia. His laurels have not reduced the burden of living as a disabled. For, he is jobless and stigmatised.
He is a special case among the 60 persons with disabilities who registered with the Vocational Rehabilitation Centre for the Differently-abled, a government entity, which, along with Hyderabad-based NGO Take One, had organised a job fair at its premises on Friday.
Kumar won the silver medal in the 3000' metre race at Special Olympics World Games 2011 held at Athens. Two years later in 2013, he participated in the special games held in Newcastle. Unfortunately, he could not win as he suffered an asthma attack a few hours prior to the event.
Given the achievements so far, Kumar has no means of earning an income.”I don’t mind even if I get the position of an office boy in an organisation. I have stopped training (for athletics) in the last four months because I suffered a fall. However, I want a permanent job so that I can support my parents. I know I can work hard despite my disability. However, so far, people have turned me down due to my condition. When I can run 3000 metres without stopping, I know I can perform well if given a job,” says Kumar in a slurred voice.
Santosh has been training in tailoring and computers in hopes of securing a job someday. His father, Ravindra Kumar, shares his plight,”The state government has not helped us at all in terms of getting him a job. After he won the silver medal, the Karnataka government gave him a cheque of Rs 75,000."
Deputy director (in charge) of the Vocational Centre, Balappa Bhajantri, said, “We have five companies with us, who want to employ these disabled people. They are looking for candidates who have hearing challenged, orthopaedic disorders and mild visual impairments. They will be given jobs in customer support and accounting departments.”