http://www.telegraphindia.com/1111213/jsp/frontpage/story_14874002.jsp
Job promise, better deal for disabled SUMAN K. SHRIVASTAVA Ranthu Munda Ranchi, Dec. 12: Finally, it’s Munda calling Munda. Moved by The Telegraph’s story on teenage blind sports protégé Ranthu Munda on December 11, chief minister Arjun Munda yesterday said the state government would consider giving him a “direct job” once he finished his schooling from New Delhi. The chief minister added his government had been in the process of formulating a policy for disabled persons to minimise the plight of teenagers like Ranthu who had to leave their home state for better opportunities. Ranthu, hailing from Khunti’s Haldigara village, has proved his fine fettle with the willow at the Institute for the Blind, Lajpat Nagar, New Delhi, which he joined in 2006, leaving Harmu’s Rashtriya Netraheen Madhya Vidyalaya. The Harmu school did not have modern aids such as recordings to facilitate his studies. The 17-year-old will complete his schooling next year, after which it remains to be seen if Munda Senior keeps his word. “My government will ensure transparent and effective implementation of schemes meant for the disabled as well as their schooling,” the chief minister stressed. State disability commissioner Satish Chandra admitted to the fact that state run blind schools — in Ranchi and Giridih — lacked facilities, including Braille books. But he said that a start had been made. “Some five months ago, we got 11 disabled-friendly computers installed at the Ranchi blind school (read Ranthu’s former alma mater) with the information technology department’s aid,” he pointed out. The Giridih school would also get computers in the next fiscal, he added, while plans were afoot to upgrade Ranchi blind school up to secondary level. Apparently, Jharkhand cradles for deaf and mute students — there are two government cradles at Ranchi and Dumka and four government-aided ones at Ranchi, Dhanbad, Chaibasa and Hazaribagh — will also get an infrastructure revamp. “We installed 11 computers at Ranchi deaf and dumb school,” he said. The report published by The Telegraph on December 11 The state’s draft disability policy envisages all education and technical institutes, private or government, allocate 3 per cent seats for physically disabled persons at any cost. “We will appoint 777 special teachers for block-level schools to mentor disabled students admitted to regular schools,” Chandra added, promising an overhaul at the grassroots. Departments such as education, health, social services, among others, will also be asked to spend 3 per cent of their budget on welfare for the disabled. “Special rehabilitation schemes will also be planned for them,” he said. The state was also looking at private aid. “Corporate houses, which get land and other facilities from the state government, will also be prodded to give jobs to the differently abled,” said Chandra, adding that the 3 per cent reservation in government jobs for the disabled persons would continue. Chandra said the proposed policy for the disabled had got the nod from the law department. “It will soon be tabled for cabinet approval,” he added. Search for old postings at: http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/ 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
