PM intervention sought in providing scribe to handicapped CS aspiran

New Delhi, May 8 (UNI) The Disabled Rights Group (DRG) today demanded Prime Minister's intervention into the denial of permission of providing a scribe to a disabled girl, with 90 per cent disablitiy in her upper limbs, to appear in the Civil Services exam despite a provision to this effect.

Introducing Chandigarh resident Sunita Dogra, winner of President's medal for being a 'role model for the disabled', to mediapersons DRG Convenor Javed Abidi said at a time when her concentration should have been on her studies she was running from pillar to post to get her ''due right''.

''With barely a week to go for the Civil Services prelims exam on May 14, Sunita was petitioning one officer to another to get a due for which she was eligible, and this was very disheartening.'' We are not expecting a charity or something new, except what the provision says on providing the facility of a scribe to a visually impaired. ''If it can be for a visually impaired, why not for someone with 90 per cent disablitiy in her upper limbs. When rules are there why aren't they being implemented?'' Despite Sunita having raised the issue with authorities in December itself, no final decision has been taken on her appearing to the CS exam, he said.

''The apathy and inaction could be gauged from the fact that even the Chief Commissioner for Persons with Disablities, which is under the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, has yet to decide on the matter despite having been petitioned two months back.'' The DRG has written to the PM, Congress chief Sonia Gandhi and Home Minister Shivraj Patil, seeking their intervention in the denial of opportunity to a deserving person. If not we would resort to a 'dharna' outside the Prime Minister's Office at South Block, Mr Abidi added.

Ms Dogra, on her part, said she was determined to appear in the May 14 prelims exam even if she would not be able to give out her best due to lack of speed as both her arms were affected.

''Though I expect justice and subsequently a scribe would be provided to me which would help me enormously, I will not only appear in the exam but continue with the 'fight' which is for many more Sunitas to come.'' During childhood she wanted to be a lawyer but now with challenges coming in her way to become a Civil Servant, she said she wanted to go ''all out'' to get the ''right for the deserving.'' UNI AN SHB GC1742