250 visually impaired on fast seeking jobs

Tribune News Service

Shimla, February 2

As many as 250 visually impaired, who are eligible for Class-III and Class-IV jobs under 1 per cent cadre quota, have accused the state government, including various corporations, of violating the Supreme Court orders passed on October 8, 2013, by not filling the posts reserved for them.

The employees, under the banner of the National Federation of Blind, have been on a fast for the last three days here for the stepmotherly treatment being meted to them by the state government. They have been raising their demand to fill the cadre post, but to no avail, they rued.

Suraj from Nagrota Surian and Dayant from Chatri(Mandi), who have been on a chain hunger strike, said nobody listened to them.

“The politicians talked about poor and handicapped in election rallies and in the Vidhan Sabha, but do little and we are the example,” they resented.

Talking to The Tribune here today, members of the National Federation of Blind said there were about 250 eligible persons to be recruited on class – III and IV posts. But some non-genuine visually impaired were getting preference in these jobs and various departments and corporations claimed that they had exhausted the quota, alleged general secretary Shobhu Ram.

As many as 475 visually impaired had been employed since 2017, Ram said, citing government data. “As per the cadre strength of 1 per cent quota for the blind, we should get about 2,000 posts. We are not asking for filling these posts, but are seeking justice for the 250 genuine persons eligible for the Class-III and IV posts,” added Ratan Chand, its president.

They rued that their genuine voice had not reached Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh. The Supreme Court order passed on October 8, 2013, had directed all states to fill 1 per cent jobs reserved for them, but 250 visually impaired awaited justice, said Ram.