Visually impaired associations observe International Day of PwDs as black day

Members of the Tamil Nadu Visually Impaired Association observing the International Day of Persons with Disabilities (PwDs) as a black day staged a condemnation protest in front of the District Collector’s office here on Wednesday. 

The Visually Impaired College Students and Graduates Association, Tamil Nadu Visually Impaired Volleyball Association, the Visually Impaired Teachers Association, and Tamil Nadu Visually Impaired Association, during the protest jointly condemned the DMK government claiming it had cheated the visually impaired persons by failing to fulfil the promises made during the previous election. 

Saravana Kumar, an administrator for the Association of Visually Impaired Persons with Disabilities, addressing the press, said, “The DMK government announced promises for differently abled people during the election but has now issued G.O. No. 24, which undermines their livelihood.” 

“Therefore, we are observing the International Day of Persons with Disabilities as a Black Day and protesting, demanding that the DMK government cancel G.O. No. 24,” he added.  

Further, he said, the government proudly spoke about distributing minor items like spectacles on disabilities day but has effectively cancelled the G.O. that would provide job appointments through the special recruitment drive, which was crucial for the livelihood of differently abled people.  

During the 2021 Assembly elections, the DMK promised in its election manifesto that steps would be taken to fully implement the 4% reservation in government jobs for persons with disabilities, he recalled.  

Subsequently, in 2023, G.O. No. 20 was issued in the Legislative Assembly, stating that the 4% reservation for differently abled would be properly calculated, and appointments would be made through a special recruitment drive. 

“Based on the G.O., the State government ordered that the 4% reservation should be implemented within one year, considering the total staff strength across A, B, C, and D categories in all government departments. It also mandated the regularization of differently abled people currently working on consolidated pay,” he elaborated. 

Mr. Saravana Kumar, stated, however, after several months since the release of G.O. No 20, no announcement regarding job opportunities was made, leading visually impaired persons to stage continuous protests. 

During the subsequent negotiations, the government reportedly confirmed that 2,010 posts had been identified and assured that the special recruitment drive would be conducted in July 2024 once the identification process was completed. 

But contrary to their announcement, the Tamil Nadu government issued G.O. No 24 last October which scrapped G.O. No. 20, G.O. No. 151, and all promises made by the government, he alleged. 

“Furthermore, they have also frozen G.O. No.151, which was meant to regularise differently abled people working on consolidated pay, thus deceiving them,” he stated  

“Therefore, the DMK government must immediately fulfil the promises it made to them,” the protesters demanded.