>From the standpoint of equality, I would like to assert that our friends are in a very hobbling condition in comparison to their sighted colleagues. I strongly feel that this is no reason that the skillful ones would be handsomely employed if they continued heartening their bosses by their stellar work. Where are the sighted ones in this monumental effort?
I would emphatically point out that the NGOs who are jabbing the visually challenged in such jobs, should exhort the private companies, since these NGOs have superabundant money and power, and each of us should suggest these fat cats to make the things clearer rather than to play the game from behind. But the sycophants would not mind it: they themselves on the contrary will go for a little benefit, and will let us go in the quagmire. An easy idea is for us to accept that we are defective, and thus we deserve less in comparison to the others. In this way we will keep on selling our hard labor at the cheapest rate to these scoundrels! Shadab On 6/26/07, Sudhir R (NeSTIT) <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > Dear friends, > > We have all been enthused in recent months by the continuous stream of > 'heart-warming' news reports from the booming IT and ITES sectors of India > opening their doors to the visually challenged. But, closer observation of > the facts on the ground reveal certain trends that are disquieting and > disillusioning and though not politically correct, I thought I must bring > these to the kind attention of Access Indians. > > a) It seems many of those who have been recruited have been taken in as > contract employees and remain so for years together. The professed excuse > bandied by the companies is that they want to keep the actual employee count > low. This excuse would have held water had not the companies gladly > confirmed the non-disabled staff members who were recruited along with or > much later than their disabled counterparts. I can understand a company > extending an employee's probation if he does not measure up, but, extending > contracts umpteen number of times seem to take on sinister tones. > > b) Simultaneously, I think these unfortunate disabled candidates also suffer > discriminatory treatment vis-a-vis their non-disabled peers in terms of > compensation and benefit, seniority etc due to the long years they spend as > contract employees. > > c) It may be fashionable to explain this phenomenon as a modern trend in > employment thanks to globalisation, but, when it applies only to one segment > of (disadvantaged) employees, I prefer to call it high-handed > discrimination. India does not have a social security mechanism in place > and the best bet for any disabled resource is still the security of a > regular job. Unfortunately, the current practice seems to be denying this > precise safety net to the disabled. > > I am not sure how many of Access Indians working in the IT / ITES sector are > currently suffering this discrimination silently, hoping to be confirmed in > the years to come. But, anecdotal evidence has shown me that many of the > so-called 'equal opportunity employers' who hog media limelight with their > 'diversity enrichment' programmes are major culprits of this shameful > practice. May be, a few of the silent sufferers should speak out for the > sake of other starry-eyed youngsters who have been building castles in thin > air after reading all these media reports. > > Simultaneously, can legal eagles like Kanchan and Rajesh educate us about > the current Indian laws applicable to the rights of contract employees ? I > am sure it is mandatory for a company to confirm an employee after a > particular period of being a contract employee. How does one go about > enforcing such laws and how risky would such a procedure be ? > > And, Subramony, can you smell a journalistic scoop in this issue ? > > > I have been an avid votary of the IT and ITES sector as possible sources of > fullfilling and well-paying careers for the visually challenged and have > even been discouraging the local youngsters from looking at the unglamourous > Government sector, but, I should admit this revelation has forced me to > revise my recommendations. In fact, I have started wondering whether this > phenomenon is restricted merely to the IT / ITES sector or a characteristic > of the entire private sector. I know of at least one case in Kerala where a > manufacturing company has been employing a visually challenged youngster for > almost 9 years as a contract employee at half the salary he would have been > entitled for in regular service. > > Please share your individual views, suggestions and experiences in this > matter. Skeletons have remained in the corporate cupboards for too long, > methinks... > > Regards > > R Sudhir > M: 098 472 76 126 > To unsubscribe send a message to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with > the subject unsubscribe. > > To change your subscription to digest mode or make any other changes, please > visit the list home page at > http://accessindia.org.in/mailman/listinfo/accessindia_accessindia.org.in > To unsubscribe send a message to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with the subject unsubscribe. To change your subscription to digest mode or make any other changes, please visit the list home page at http://accessindia.org.in/mailman/listinfo/accessindia_accessindia.org.in
