Hello sir, It’s certainly a great move for all of us and long awaited relief. I do take the opportunity to express my sincere thanks for undertaking this noble cause witch will benefit for lot many people.
I would also like to know about one issue faced by me and several others like me working in my project. As you may be aware that we have been provided the staff quarters as per the entitlements of each employee as per policy framed by ntpc for allotment of quarters. As per the grade, we have been allotted the quarter A type which is equivalent to 1 BHK. Keeping in mind the visual impairment and the difficulties of moving around in such a small area available in the quarter and lack of space for accommodation to stay with our dependent parents, various employees of ntpc from their projects had approached their management to kindly consider the request of allotting the b type quarter equivalent to 2BHK to them as special consideration. Along with the said request, they had also asked the management to provide the intercom facility in the quarter as provided to other senior employees so as to be benefited in contacting the various services like complaint for civil work, hospital emergencies, electricity in case we are not able to accompany the escorts to reach them personally. As a matter of gesture, the management of ntpc at various projects accepted the said demand and allotted the b type quarter to all the physically challenged employees of ntpc at their projects. In this regard, since I myself is facing the aforesaid difficulties as faced by the other colleagues as mentioned, I have approached the management of my project to which they have replied that since your entitlement does not permit to allow you B type quarter, we may not be able to consider your request at this moment of time. In view of the above mentioned circumstances, can I insist the management of my project to treat my case similarly as delt in other projects in providing the quarter as special consideration? 2 are there any possibilities to do something just like the present case follow up to modify the quarter allotment rules which can be made applicable to physically challenged employees of ntpc? 3 can this case be treated as discrimination as various projects had already considered the said difficulties put forth by physically challenged employees to allot them B type quarter? 4 what any other steps I should take to request for the same? There are more than half of the quarters are vacant in my project. I am stating this reason because few of the projects were not able to accept the said request made by the physically challenged employees as no sufficient quarters are available to allot the same. I am facing great difficulties in accommodating my educational materials such as, Braille books of my education, no enough space to move freely and considering the number of persons including myself and my three dependents staying in such a small place. Your reply in this regard would be highly obliged. Thanking you, mukesh. On 3/15/12, Prashant Ranjan Verma <pr_ve...@hotmail.com> wrote: > Please try to copy paste the link text. Sometimes it gets broken into two > lines in emails. > Copyig it again here. > http://dl.dropbox.com/u/2875242/CCPD%20Judgement%20in%20the%20NTPC%20Conveya > nce%20Scheme%20case.pdf > > -----Original Message----- > From: accessindia-boun...@accessindia.org.in > [mailto:accessindia-boun...@accessindia.org.in] On Behalf Of Dinesh > Sent: 15 March 2012 20:48 > To: accessindia@accessindia.org.in > Subject: Re: [AI] Good news for disabled employees of NTPC Ltd. > > good news. But that dropbox link isn't working. > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Himanshu Sahu" <sahu.himanshu2...@gmail.com> > To: <accessindia@accessindia.org.in> > Sent: Thursday, March 15, 2012 8:38 PM > Subject: Re: [AI] Good news for disabled employees of NTPC Ltd. > > >> Great judgement! >> I remember that few months back on the AI list itself, the same issue >> was discussed vehemently. The issue was raised by one of the VI >> employees of NTPC. >> >> I had strongly recommended for the legal remedy in the matter since it >> is a blatant abuse of the spirit of equal opportunity and justice. >> >> However, the suggestion of legal remedy was opposed by another NTPC >> employee and one of the honoured list member saying that dragging >> family (organisation) in the court being a family member oneself is >> not desirable. >> >> Nevertheless, the judgement will be proved a milestone in the endless >> struggle of disabled for getting equal opportunity, justice, >> recognition and their due respect in the society. >> >> Thanks to disability for acting posibively for disability! >> >> >> On 3/15/12, Prashant Ranjan Verma <pr_ve...@hotmail.com> wrote: >>> >>> >>> Hi all, >>> >>> In a case that we filed sometime earlier CCPD has delivered a great >>> judgement. It will benefit more than 450 persons with disabilities >>> working >>> at NTPC who were facing discrimination and exclusion. This case may be >>> cited >>> by employees of other organizations who are facing similar issues. >>> >>> The judgement text is copied below. You can get its signed copy from this >>> link. >>> >>> > http://dl.dropbox.com/u/2875242/CCPD%20Judgement%20in%20the%20NTPC%20Conveya >>> nce%20Scheme%20case.pdf >>> >>> OFFICE OF THE CHIEF COMMISSIONER FOR PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES >>> >>> Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Govt, of India >>> >>> >>> >>> Case No. 157/1023/11-12 Dated : 27.02.2012 >>> >>> In the matter of: >>> >>> Smt. Nirupama J. and Others >>> ....Complainants >>> >>> B-17, NTPC Ltd/FGPS >>> >>> FGPS Township, Mujedi P.O. >>> >>> Neemka, Faridabad-121 004 >>> >>> >>> >>> Versus >>> >>> NTPC Limited .... >>> Respondent >>> >>> Through: Executive Director (HR) >>> >>> NTPC Bhawan, SCOPE Complex >>> >>> 7, Institutional Area, Lodhi Road, >>> >>> New Road, New Delhi -110003 >>> >>> >>> >>> Date of hearing : 27.02.2012 >>> >>> Present: >>> >>> (i) Shri. T.K. Sit, Manager (HR), NTPC. New Delhi. >>> >>> (ii) Shri. Chandramauli S.J., Sr. Manager (HR), NTPC, New Delhi. >>> >>> (iii) Ms. Nirupama J., A.O. (Finance Deptt.), NTPC, Faridabad. >>> >>> (iv) Ms. Veena Mehta Verma, Officer (HR), NTPC, Badarpur, Delhi. >>> >>> (v) Shri. Prashant Ranjan Verma. >>> >>> >>> >>> ORDER >>> >>> The complainants, in this case filed a complaint dated 06.09.2011 before >>> the >>> Chief Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities under the Persons with >>> Disabilities (Equal Opportunities, Protection of Rights and Full >>> Participation) Act, 1995 referred to as 'Act' regarding non-reimbursement > >>> of >>> conveyance expenses to employees with disabilities in NTPC. >>> >>> >>> >>> 2. Except Shri Prashant Verma, all the three complainants are stated to >>> be >>> the employees of NTPC. They have submitted that they are not being >>> reimbursed the conveyance expenses. >>> >>> As per them, the scheme of expenditure for local travel for official >>> purposes provides for reimbursement of the petrol expenses only if the >>> employee has a vehicle registered in his/her name and he/she holds a >>> valid >>> driving license. As many person with disabilities neither can drive nor >>> can >>> get a valid driving license even though they may be owning >>> two-wheelers/cars, they are not being reimbursed the conveyance expenses. >>> >>> 3. The matter was taken up with NTPC Limited vide letter dated 04.10,2011 >>> >>> 4. The respondent vide their letter no.01:HR-Policy:7(16.1) dated >>> 17.11.2011 >>> submitted that the current pay structure and allowances of employees in >>> NTPC >>> is based on the DPE guidelines dated 26.11.2008 regarding revision of >>> scales >>> of pay w.e.f. 01.01. 2007 for Central Public Sector Enterprises. These >>> DPE >>> guidelines do not provide for special payment of transport allowance to >>> persons with disabilities. >>> >>> 5. The complainants in their rejoinder submitted that the transport >>> allowance comes under 47% perquisites is applicable to all NTPC >>> employees. >>> The existing scheme is applicable to all NTPC executives and workmen. >>> They >>> are requesting for waiving the condition of having a self valid driving >>> license."" As per them a scheme which is meant for all employees should >>> not >>> have eligibility conditions which exclude 450 odd employees with >>> disabilities. This has resulted in substantial financial loss and >>> deprivation of rights of persons with disabilities. Persons who cannot >>> drive >>> themselves, should be allowed to produce the valid driving license of the >>> person who drives their vehicle. The complainants have enclosed a copy of >>> the scheme in Satluj Jal Vidyut Nigam Limited, a public sector >>> undertaking. >>> >>> 6. Upon considering the written submissions of the parties, a personal >>> hearing was scheduled for 27.02.2012. >>> >>> 7. During the hearing the representative of the respondent submitted that >>> employees with disabilities can avail the company vehicle in the event of >>> undertaking any local travel for official purpose. He also clarified that >>> while non-disabled employees of the company have an option to avail the >>> reimbursement of expenditure for local conveyance for official purpose, >>> employees with disabilities do not have any option. He further stated >>> that >>> under the current norms of the company, only thosg employees who own a >>> vehicle and who have a self valid driving license are eligible to get the >>> benefit of reimbursement of expenditure for local conveyance for official >>> purpose. >>> >>> 8. The complainants highlighted the following points: >>> >>> (i) That many employees with disabilities including those with visual >>> impairment, naturally cannot drive the vehicle which they may own. Hence >>> to >>> deprive them of the option of availing the benefit of the reimbursement >>> of >>> expenditure for local travel for official purpose is discriminatory and >>> exclusionary. >>> >>> >>> >>> (ii) While one or two employees with disabilities are getting the option >>> of >>> the said reimbursement, most are not. There may be situations where even >>> persons without disability may not like driving their own vehicles or >>> such >>> persons who may temporarily be disabled or unfit. >>> >>> (iii) The complainants also cited the norms being followed by other >>> public >>> sector undertakings such as Gas Authority of India Limited (GAIL), >>> Hindustan >>> Petro Chemical Limited (HPCL) etc which do not require a self valid >>> driving >>> license for availing similar facilities / schemes. >>> >>> (iv) One of the complainant Ms. Nirupama J. submitted a copy of a >>> relevant >>> note sheet to substantiate her statement that the concerned authorities >>> had >>> turned down her request for allowing her to opt for reimbursement of >>> expenditure for local travel for official purpose. >>> >>> (v) The complainants also submitted that they were not asking for any >>> special payment. On the contrary they were only asking for facilities and >>> options which are available to employees without disabilities. >>> >>> 9. In this view of the matter, the complainants have prayed for >>> modification >>> of the relevant norms requiring self valid license as an essential >>> eligibility criteria for availing the said facilities. They further >>> prayed >>> that they be allowed this facility on and from the date they were >>> entitled >>> to such facilities and that employees with disabilities should have the >>> same >>> option which the employees without disability have on an equal basis. >>> >>> >>> >>> 10. In the facts and circumstances stated above, and upon meticulous >>> examination of averments / submissions of the complainants and the >>> respondents, we feel that NTPC, by their act of institutionalizing >>> discriminatory and exclusionary norms is depriving its employees with >>> disabilities the option and the facility of getting the reimbursement of >>> expenditure for local travel for official purposes and have acted against >>> the established and recognized" norms of propriety and natural justice. >>> Since NTPC has demonstrated openness in the matter of employing persons >>> with >>> disabilities, it is all the more expected of NTPC to ensure that its >>> policies acquire a human face. It would also be in the fitness of things >>> for >>> us to observe that complainants are not asking for any extra and special >>> favour. All that they are asking for is a modification in their existing >>> norms so that the self valid driving license is not mandatory for an >>> employee with disability for availing the facility of reimbursement of >>> expenditure of local travel for official purpose as stated above. >>> >>> >>> >>> 11. In view of the matter the case is disposed of with the following >>> directions to respondent: >>> >>> i) Modify the existing and relevant guidelines / norms / policies >>> envisaged >>> including the eligibility criteria contained in paragraph 3 of the scheme > >>> of >>> reimbursement of expenditure for local travel for official purposes in a >>> manner that it unambiguously ensures option to employees with >>> disabilities >>> to avail the facilities / schemes of reimbursement expenditure for local >>> travel for official purpose on equal basis with employees without >>> disabilities and this modification must be made effective on and from the >>> date from which it was made available to the employees without >>> disabilities. >>> >>> >>> >>> ii) Further the directions as envisaged in (i) above must be implemented >>> within a period of two months from the date of receipt of this order by >>> the >>> respondents under intimation to this Court. >>> >>> >>> >>> (P.K. PINCHA) >>> >>> Chief Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> Search for old postings at: >>> http://www.mail-archive.com/accessindia@accessindia.org.in/ >>> >>> To unsubscribe send a message to >>> accessindia-requ...@accessindia.org.in >>> 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 >>> >>> >> >> >> -- >> Thanks and regards >> Himanshu Sahu >> Reach: 09051055000 >> Skype: himanshu.cute4u >> >> >> Search for old postings at: >> http://www.mail-archive.com/accessindia@accessindia.org.in/ >> >> To unsubscribe send a message to >> accessindia-requ...@accessindia.org.in >> 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 >> > > > > Search for old postings at: > http://www.mail-archive.com/accessindia@accessindia.org.in/ > > To unsubscribe send a message to > accessindia-requ...@accessindia.org.in > 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 > > > > > Search for old postings at: > http://www.mail-archive.com/accessindia@accessindia.org.in/ > > To unsubscribe send a message to > accessindia-requ...@accessindia.org.in > 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 > > -- Regards, Mukesh jain Email: mukesh.jai...@gmail.com Skype: mukeshjain211 Mob: 09977165123 "Face your deficiencies and acknowledge them; but do not let them master you. Let them teach you patience, sweetness, insight. " Helen Keller Search for old postings at: http://www.mail-archive.com/accessindia@accessindia.org.in/ To unsubscribe send a message to accessindia-requ...@accessindia.org.in 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
