Dear Friends and Colleagues on Access India, I'm writing as *K. Satyanarayana Reddy*, an Administrative Officer at *United India Insurance Company Ltd., Visakhapatnam*, and a person with blindness. I've initiated a direct appeal to my company's Executive Directors regarding critical, systemic barriers impacting both our customers and employees with disabilities.
These issues are profound: - *Persistent reluctance in underwriting policies for persons with disabilities*, violating the *Rights of Persons with Disabilities (RPWD) Act, 2016*. My own professional experience highlights a disturbing hypocrisy: as an officer in the Technical Department, I am a *key decision-maker* handling escalated Fire and Miscellaneous proposals, often involving high-risk approvals where operating officers constantly call and follow up with me. Yet, when I personally attempted for *nearly a month* to secure a fresh health insurance policy for a friend with a *non-progressive, congenital disability*—a policy that clearly should be issued—I approached *two different branch managers* who merely said "yes, yes, yes" but never proceeded. This passive denial, extended for nearly a month, isn't about premium or risk; it's a deep-seated *fear and reluctance* to engage with disability cases. This makes me question the very purpose of my work if we, as an organization, cannot deliver justice to our own community. - *Significant internal accessibility barriers* for employees, coupled with a *lack of a dedicated grievance mechanism* for us, unlike those for other employee categories (Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, Other Backward Classes). While external, customer-facing portals are being made accessible in response to Chief Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities (CCPD) directives, *what good is an accessible portal if the attitudes of the people operating it are not accessible?* I've been advocating for these changes from the day I started working, for the past *11 months*, exhausting numerous internal channels and escalating these issues to top authorities. While my efforts have consistently been acknowledged and even appreciated, *no concrete action or focus on solving these issues has materialized.* This direct appeal to the Executive Directors is a necessary step due to the *absence of proper internal representation for persons with disabilities*. The company often doesn't even acknowledge these as systemic problems because there's no strong internal force to hold them accountable. Unlike other communities within the public sector who benefit from established associations and clear accountability, our disability-related concerns are often dismissed as "small" or individual issues by a management that largely lacks direct experience or structured awareness of disability challenges. While my intent is constructive change, based on past experiences, directly raising such issues has regrettably led to subtle repercussions, including being unofficially labeled a "troublemaker" and feeling ignored. I know there are genuinely good and supportive individuals within the company, and I appreciate their empathy. However, they may not be in key decision-making roles to effect the widespread, systemic change that is truly needed. My greatest concern is that inaction or misinterpretation might inadvertently harm the broader disability community within the organization. I've meticulously documented all relevant communications and evidence since joining. *Public sector insurance companies, in particular, should be torchbearers for inclusion*, setting an example for the entire industry. When this is not the case, it becomes imperative for advocates to step forward. While I am in a position to advocate, I am also acutely aware that raising these critical systemic issues carries a *personal risk of retaliation*. I've been proactively trying to ensure I have the necessary support. If you, as a community, feel that my efforts are justified and meaningful, I would truly appreciate your backing whenever needed. I urge organizations like the *National Centre for Promotion of Employment for People with Disabilities (NCPEDP)*, and advocates such as *Mr. Armaan Ali* and *Mr. George Abraham*, to be aware of this situation. Your collective guidance and support would be invaluable should internal efforts face undue resistance or adverse reactions. It's crucial that accountability for disability inclusion is as strong and unignorable as it is for other communities, ensuring that the necessary individuals in power take decisive action. Thank you for your solidarity and potential support. Warm regards, K. Satyanarayana Reddy -- Disclaimer: 1. Contents of the mails, factual, or otherwise, reflect the thinking of the person sending the mail and AI in no way relates itself to its veracity; 2. AI cannot be held liable for any commission/omission based on the mails sent through this mailing list.. Search for old postings at: http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/ --- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "AccessIndia" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to [email protected]. To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/a/accessindia.org.in/d/msgid/accessindia/CACdzSDsRhZL9HifAPTzHb5jSB7n%3Du6Ju_DjN95LTJGjTi_hWWQ%40mail.gmail.com.
