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Disability News India (DNI)

Disability News India (DNI), is a disability News service dedicated to providing a quality up-to-date information to the Indian Disability. DNI's news section is updated two times a week, though we also add breaking stories as and when they occur.


Rejected in Indian Administrative Services (IAS) due to disability


New Delhi: Admission to the Indian Administrative Services (IAS) is the dream of hundreds of thousands of Indians every year.

However, Kumar Avikal Manu's dream turned into a nightmare when after clearing the exam, he was rejected by an insensitive bureaucracy because of a partial disability in one hand.

The 30-year-old would have been a part of the elite civil services today as an officer of the Indian Revenue Service but fate, and an insensitive Government dealt him a cruel hand.

Avikal had cleared the UPSC (Union Public Service Commission) exams in 2004 and in May 2005, he received a letter from the Department of Personnel and Training. The letter stated that he had cleared his civil services exams and was being considered.

But things took a turn for the worst when he did not hear a word from the Government after August 2005. He is still wondering what the 48 per cent disability in his right hand got to do with DOPT (Dept. of personnel Training) becoming mute.

"Because of this attempt of DOPT, I have suffered mental and psychological harassment, and loss of valuable time," says Avikal.

Gradually losing hope, Avikal approached the Central Information Commission (CIC) in October 2006.

In December last year, the CIC pulled up DOPT for its lackadaisical approach. But with the DOPT continuing to be silent on this case, the CIC is now contemplating even more serious action.

The commission now believes that this case is important and deserves a rare full-bench hearing.

Only half a dozen cases have been heard by a full bench so far. It can only mean that the CIC is now going to give the DOPT an earful.

"The matter has been referred to the full commission to give its own judgement on the issue," says Information Commissioner MM Ansari.

Interestingly, the DOPT is the nodal agency for the implementation of the RTI act and every effort to get in touch with the department and secure their version of the story has not yielded results.

There is no explanation why the DOPT is making this discrimination and this is not the first time when successful but physically challenged candidates have leveled such an allegation against the department. 

Source: www.moneycontrol.com

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CBSE readies special package for disabled students


New Delhi, Feb 16 (IANS) From making seating arrangements on the ground floor to setting up six dedicated centres for blind students, the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has made special provisions this year to help physically challenged students during their board examinations.

"This year a total of 2,132 physically challenged students are appearing for both the Class 10 and 12 board examinations. After discussing the problems they face, we have made a number of arrangements for them," said CBSE chairperson Ashok Ganguly.

"For the first time, six examination centres have been set up purely for the blind candidates. Besides, we have asked all schools to allow physically challenged students to sit on the ground floor," Ganguly said.

Of the 2,132 physically challenged students, 1,307 are appearing for the Class 10 board examinations and 825 students will take the Class 12 examinations.

"We had asked all the examination centres to collect their answer sheets and package it separately. It would help us evaluate their papers separately and know the problem areas," M.C. Sharma, controller of examinations, told IANS.

Sharma said all facilities - use of calculators and computers and amanuensis (writer) - had been taken care of. Blind and spastic candidates would be provided services of an amanuensis free of cost, if they require.

So far, blind students get alternative questions in lieu of questions having visual inputs in English Communicative and Social Science in class 10. In the Class 12 examinations, they avail the benefit for history, geography and economics.

Added Ganguly: "Like previous years, this year too they would get one hour more to complete their examinations. Separate question papers in enlarged print for Mathematics and Science and Technology in Class 10 are also provided to blind students."

In 2007, a total of 705,152 candidates from 7,658 schools, will appear for the Class 10 examinations both in India and abroad - an increase of 8.11 percent over last year.

Similarly, 502,688 students from 4,789 schools would take the Class 12 examinations both in India and abroad. This is an increase of 9.59 percent from 2006. 

Source:IANS

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Braille voting machines for visually impaired


DEHRADUN, Blind people in India might soon get a chance to exercise their franchise through new Braille Electronic Voting Machines.

A proposal to this effect has already been accepted in principle by the Election Commission of India and the next step is to seek help from the National Institute for Visually Handicapped (NIVH), the premier institute for blinds, for making a Braille EVM. Under the process, Braille symbols would be installed on the EVMs, thus visually handicapped people should not have any problem in exercising their franchise, a NIVH spokesperson said. "We received the proposal and it was immediately put before the Election Commission which in turn gave its acceptance in principle," Chief Electoral Officer of north Indian state of Uttarkhand N. Ravishanker said. 

Source:PTI

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One-minute film competition on disability


ABILITYFEST Ea bi-annual International Film Festival organised by Ability Foundation in Chennai on the lines of those held around the world Ein London, Melbourne, Paris, Munich, Calgary, Toronto and Beirut. A unique and inspiring showcase of extraordinary internationally acclaimed films by, with and about people with disabilities. The first one was held in 2005 and the second one is scheduled for July 2007.

The organisers Ability Foundation is a national NGO involved in the integration, empowerment and mainstreaming of persons with disabilities. An organisation that works with the firm conviction that disabled people are an integral part of society and as such, everyone in society has a very significant part to play in making true inclusion possible. Towards this mission, the foundation works with single minded dedication to bridge the divide between disabled and non-disabled persons and is involved in a wide range of activities, almost all of which are pioneering in nature, that spotlight on dispelling stereotypes and focus on the potential of disabled persons and pave the way for an equitable society where individual diversities are respected and with equal opportunities for all are the norm. 

Source: Chennaionline

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Polio eradication: Battle yet to be won


Polio eradication: Battle yet to be won Deepak Kumar Mohanty 18 February 2007, Sunday A couple of years ago, health officials in India proudly declared a polio free India but the report for 2006 shows an unexpected rise in the number of cases, which has alarmed the world again. Though, awareness of the disease has increased but increase in the number of cases is a setback to the whole polio eradication campaign.

Polio is a highly infectious diseases but preventable with timely vaccination. It can strike anyone, at any age, but mostly affects children below 5 years. It weakens the nervous system and paralyzes certain body parts. It spreads through food and water, contaminated by the faecal and oral contact of the infected person.

India and the members of the World Health Organization (WHO) started the complete polio eradication campaign in year 1988, when there were around 3,50000 cases reported from 125 countries. Since then the campaign has been successful and eradicated polio from many countries and was also in a mission to eliminate it completely from all over world at the end of 2005. But, new cases in Nigeria, India, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Niger, and Somalia have postponed this deadline. India has now the second highest number of polio patients after Nigeria and has become the focal point in the whole world.

According to the National Polio Surveillance Project, run by WHO, there are 672 new cases in the year 2006-year end compared to the 66 of 2005. Uttar Pradesh has the maximum number with 545 and is next to Bihar having 61. The cumulative rise is the most worrying factor, as the disease can be transmitted to other parts of the country that are now polio free. So, it has really become a challenge for the health officials in India to deal with poliovirus and in states like UP and Bihar. Another finding that this report highlights is that states like Delhi, Jammu & Kashmir, West Bengal, Rajasthan, Himachal Pradesh have now new cases despite the fact that they were rendered polio free in the previous report.

The high rise is a culmination of different reasons like poor health service in rural areas, poverty, and poor sanitation along with low quality of immunization program that misses the reach of many children. As far as UP is concerned, the major problem is that around 70% of the total cases are from Muslim community. This may be because this community has a miss conception that polio drops can make them impotent by limiting their population. So, there is a need for intensive media campaign and frequent vaccination of newly born babies and without missing a single one.

Source: www.merifeb.com

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Spot the difference, visually impaired can't


HERE'S THE flip side. Consider this. Visually-impaired activist George Abraham has no means of ensuring that the stainless steel coin the coffee-vendor gave him at the Metro Station is of the right denomination.

The sharper edges of the earlier two-rupee coin helped him judge its contours, but now, says Abraham, he has no way of finding out if the "two-rupee" coin he has in his hand, is actually a one-rupee one.

Abraham isn't alone. Conservative estimates put the number of blind in the country at 10 million. And, the new two-rupee coin the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) introduced in December is causing confusion in their minds. "Now coins of all denominations are round. Even though the new two-rupee coin is slightly bigger in size, one can't really make out the difference," says C.D. Tamboli, director, education, National Association of the Blind.

When contacted, a RBI spokeswoman said the apex bank does not have much say in the actual design process. "A Finance Ministry committee awarded the assignment to the National Institute of Design (NID), Ahmedabad."

"A coin in another shape would have helped not just the blind, but also allowed children and the unlettered identify it easily," says Ashwani Kumar Aggarwal, a manager with Punjab National Bank, adding that it would have helped if the committee had at least one person sensitive towards the needs of people with visual impairment.

At the moment though, on the other side of this coin is insensitivity towards the disabled. 

Source: Hindustan Times

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Skiing camp at Narkanda for the Disabled People


The Sports Authority of India - had backed out of the event at the last moment and decided not to fund the games saying it was too early to prepare.

Shimla, Feb 23 - Mentally and physically disabled ski enthusiasts have begun skiing on the spectacular snow-covered slopes of a resort in Himachal Pradesh, Friday.

'Some 90 skiers have gathered from Himachal Pradesh and other parts of the country to take part in the week-long training course called 'Special Olympics Bharat' in Narkanda, 64 km from Shimla,' said Sudeep Rawat, an official of Bharti Airtel, the chief organisers of the event.

'At the end of this training programme some of them will be selected for the International Winter Special Olympics at Nagano in Japan in 2009,' said Rawat.

There was high excitement among the participants as they glided through the snow-covered slopes. A speech impaired teenager signalled with the help of sign language that he was delighted to be here and was confident of going to the special winter Olympics.

The Sports Authority of India - had backed out of the event at the last moment and decided not to fund the games saying it was too early to prepare.

'Such an event is being organised for the first time in the state,' said Mallika Nadda, chairperson Special Olympics Bharat. 

Source: http://www.rxpgnews.com

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Special games in Delhi soon


February 14, it will be a special day for people with special needs. Over 400 persons with disabilities from across the country will gather at Amar Jyoti campus to participate in the second National Abilympics to showcase their skills.

The Indian contingent for the seventh International Abilympics, to be held in Japan in November, will be selected during this three-day competitive event. The gold medallist at the Delhi games will compete in Japan against 33 countries.

The participants will compete in 26 vocational disciplines and four leisure and livelihood skills such as embroidery and painting. Participants for the national level were selected during the zonal abilympics held in 2006.

According to Uma Tuli, former chief commissioner (disabilities) and vice president of International Abilympics Federation, "The National Abilympics Association of India (NAAI) was formed in 2001 at the behest of the ministries for social justice and empowerment and human resources development, and hosting of the Abilympics in India has been coordinated by Amar Jyoti Charitable Trust."

An estimated cost of Rs 80 lakhs would be spent in these games of which the government will contribute 75%. The rest of the money will be raised by NAAI.

Abilympics will showcase the ability and not the disability of the person. "The mission of NAAI is to integrate these people in the mainstream with dignity and equality, not with charity," added Tuli. 

 Source: The Times of India

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To enable the intellectually disabled


Diploma courses to be offered in Special Olympics The courses will initially cater to around 50 candidates involved in the games

COIMBATORE: India has 30 million people who are intellectually disabled. Nevertheless, only 0.21 million come under the umbrella of Special Olympics International, a non-profit organisation, created to help people with intellectual disabilities develop self-confidence and social skills through sports training.

The organisation held the last Special Olympics at Iowa State, offering 20 disciplines for them to choose from.

Dearth of trainers, Special Olympics Bharat, the national wing of the organisation, is eager to send more participants from India for the next games.

But "the dearth of qualified trainers possessing knowledge of the games, in addition to having a positive attitude to work with intellectually disabled persons," has slowed the progress of sending more participants.Trainers and volunteers who coach the intellectually disabledhave no formal training.To fill this vacuum, Ramakrishna Mission Vivekananda University, here, will offer diploma and postgraduate diploma courses in Special Olympics, starting April 2007, on its sprawling campus in Perianaickenpalayam.

First of its kind, The first of its kind in the country, the courses will initially cater to around 50 candidates involved in the games.

The courses, to be offered under the aegis of the Faculty of Physical Education, Movement Science and Yoga of the University, will provide both theoretical and practical training to the candidates, Swami Anuragananda, Assistant Administrative Head of the University said.

The successive courses will be open to even those without prior knowledge of the games. The intensive course will cover aspects of the games as well as intellectual disability.

Papers- The candidates will have papers on sports rules, sports psychology, motor activity training, selection procedures and other related topics.

Once they acquire a diploma or PG diploma they will be into full-time Special Olympics training of intellectually disabled people at the university itself, or at any NGO or under Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan.

Initiative - This initiative of the university, hardly a year-and-a-half old, is expected to fulfil a long-standing need ? creating trained people to inspire andtrain the intellectually disabled in the 20-odd official games of the organisation. 

Source: Hindu

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Films give hearing impaired chance to voice their problems


Family and Deaf Issues made by Ketkar, Rathod and Kumar received award at World Deaf Expo-2007

Vadodara, February 4: What started out as experimentation in film-making for a group of differently abled people, managed to achieve much more. Apart from 'voicing their problems', two films made by Vadodara-based 33-year old Rajesh Ketkar and his friends Virbahdrasinh Rathod and Kiran Kumar 'Deaf Issues' and `Family'_ were screened and awarded at the World Deaf Expo-2007, held in Coimbatore last month.

According to Pratapsinh Rathod, Virbhadrasinh's proud father, the trio used to enjoy exploring new high-tech gadgets as a hobby and their 40-minute-film 'Family' and 25-minute-film 'Deaf Issues' were only a part of their experimentation in editing and direction. They also scripted the film as well, said Pratapsinh. "Both the movies were dubbed by Dipti Gajjar, an interpreter and a teacher from Kamla Badhir Vidhlaya,'' he added.

For now, the group is enthusiastic about going to the World Deaf Expo-2007 to be held in Spain in July. However, Ketkar, with the help of his interpreter Reshmi Mehta, conveyed that the lack of funds may pose a problem for them. She said, "He said that he and his friends are not too positive about coming up with Rs 5 lakh which they need for their Spain trip.'' Nevertheless, the techno-savvy trio has started scouting for sponsors through internet, said Mehta.

"With advancing technology in communication, I would not want myself to be cocooned in India,'' Ketkar expressed. Instead, he said, given a chance, he would want his creativity and talent to be showcased in different countries.

Virbhadra, who is also the captain of the Gujarat deaf cricket team, talked about their films with Mehta's help. While 'Family' is about routine chores of a nuclear family and the problems they face, 'Deaf Issues' emphasises the various communication problems faced by the hearing impaired.

Talking on the issue of differences in teaching patterns for the hearing-impaired causing communication problems, which is discussed in the film, Pratapsinh said, "There is a shortage of interpreters for hearing-impaired and due to this communication is a major problem.'' He added, "Moreover, the sign language and course of studies in various hearing-impaired institutions varies from school to school, which also add to the communication problem.'' he says.

Pratapsinh, who also is the honorary secretary of the Mook Badhir Mandal, stressed, "The film made by these people has shown problems caused by sign language variation in India and also takes up the issue of parents not readily learning sign language.'' 

Source:Indian Express

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Consultative Committee Meeting of Social Justice and Empowerment Meets


Union Minister for Social Justice and Empowerment, Smt. Meira Kumar has said that all efforts would made to ensure that only the qualified, trained and registered professional provides education to the children with disability. She was addressing the members of the Consultative Committee of the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, here yesterday. The agenda of the meetings was the functioning of the Rehabilitation Council of India (RCI).

She further said that the Council is committed to research and development of the training programmes that meet the ground realities and will be successful in improving the quality of life of the person with disability. She informed that the Council adopts various measures to strengthen the training centres and encourages initiation of new courses. Steps are being taken for effective implementation of the training programmes and enhancing their reach in far-flung areas of the country.

The Hon'ble Members of the Consultative Committee expressed concern about the placement of trained professionals and adequate remuneration to them. They also emphasized on the field assessment of the professionals trained by the institutions, recognized by RCI. Some members raised the issue of fees being charged by the institutions for training the professionals and the various constraints being faced by RCI. Members stated that the training of the professionals should not be lopsided and suggested to organise training in more and more regional languages. Members also demanded posting of atleast one special educator in each of the schools, to make the inclusive education, under Ministry of Human Resource Development's 'Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan' (SSA) and Integrated Education of Disabled Children (IEDC) schemes, successful. The Hon'ble Minister assured the members that their views and suggestions will be considered to make Rehabilitation Council of India more effective in achieving its objectives.

The RCI, initially set up as a registered society in 1986, became a Statutory Body on 22nd June 1993, with the enactment of Rehabilitation Council of India Act, 1992. It has twin responsibility of standardizing and regulating the training of personnel and professional in the field of Rehabilitation and special Education.

RCI aspires for reaching the un-reached through its trained professionals to provide timely intervention so as to prevent childhood disability, develop mechanisms and tools for early identification of disability and make available multi option education system along with vocational education for the disabled particularly in the rural set up.

Smt. Minati Sen, Shri Vir Chandra Paswan and Shri Radhey Shyam Kori from Lok Sabha and Shri Jesudasu Seelam, Smt. Mohsin 

Source:http://pib.nic.in/release

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CIC slaps Rs 25,000 fine on Government


The Central Information Commission has slapped a Rs 25,000 fine on the government and ordered compensation for a disabled civil service candidate who had been deprived of a prestigious job despite clearing the examinations.

The commission also wondered if the government's "inhuman" decision had something to do with a RTI request that Kumar Avikal Manu had filed.

The penalty was imposed by the commission in a stinging order on a public information officer at the Department of Personnel and Training this week for his failure to respond to Manu's request under the right to information law asking for the status of his appointment.

Manu had cleared the UPSC exams in 2004 but was never appointed, at the first instance presumably due to his disability. Manu moved under the RTI law last June but did not get a response.

Days after his case up for hearing at the CIC in December 2006, the commission's order noted, he was finally told that he could not be appointed "for want of the vacancy in any government department".

The DoPT action has "resulted in the deprivation of right to work/job of a physically handicapped person. This action is inhuman, besides being arbitrary and illogical," Information Commissioner Prof MM Ansari said, wondering if the denial was linked to his RTI application.

The compensation awarded to Manu would only run into a few thousand rupees. Javed Abidi, convenor of Disabled Rights Advocacy Group, however, hoped "the commission's order shames DoPT into taking some remedial action, for Manu and disabled as a whole".

"I find it unacceptable that the a disabled person qualifies the civil service and is then not given placement on one excuse or the other. It is gruesome," Abidi told HT. The CIC also spoke of victimisation.

"Unfortunately, the information-seeker has been victimisedEIs it because he resorted to the provision of the RTI Act for seeking information about the allotment of cadre?," Ansari asked, throwing out explanations for the six-month delay put forth by DoPT.

Three disabled candidates were last year allotted a service at the intervention of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh; Manu's name did not figure in this list either.

The commission also ordered compensation, equivalent to the salary and allowances already paid to the last candidate from his date of appointment till December 21 2006; when Manu was informed that there was no vacancy for him. 

Source:Hindustan Times
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