PUDUCHERRY: The job fair organised by the Special Employment Exchanges for the Differently Abled, Labour Department, government of Puducherry, may have given an opportunity to many of the differently abled people, who gathered at the community hall on Tuesday. But, the candidates, especially the physically challenged, struggled to reach the venue, as there was no provision of ramps to reach there.
The AKR Lakshmi Mahal, near Labour Department, Vazhudavoor Road, is located above the road- level and those visiting had to climb a few stairs to reach the office and acquire the registration form. Many of those who turned up were seen struggling as they could not reach without the help of other persons and job aspirants who had congregated there.
One of the physically challenged persons (name withheld), said after getting the token from the officials, he had to go towards the back of the building and he reached there using the stairs with great difficulty.
When his turn came, he was again asked to go to the ground floor, using the steps. A ramp could have made his task for appearing for interviews of various companies easier, he said adding that at least the organisers should make sure of a ramp in place, when such job fairs are organised in the future.
The special job fair is being organised exclusively for the differently abled and SC/ST job aspirants on the eve of the birth anniversary of philosopher Deen Dhayal Upadyay. About 20 private reputed organisations of Puducherry and Chennai-based multi-national companies took part in the fair to recruit as per their requirements.
Besides, a special counselling would be conducted by the experts for motivating the differetly abled for setting up of self-employment ventures and the NHFDC loan form would be issued to them by the Pondicherry Women & Handicapped Development Corporation.