Date:31/12/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/12/31/stories/2008123159900400.htm

New Delhi

Visually challenged demand job quota in private, public sectors

Staff Reporter

Take out peaceful march on birth anniversary of Louis Braille

– Photo: Anu Pushkarna

Rising to the occasion: Visually challenged people taking part in a peaceful march organised by the Indian Joint Organisation of the Blind in New Delhi on Tuesday to mark the birth anniversary of Louis Braille and highlight their demand for implementation of one per cent job quota in both private and public sectors.

NEW DELHI: The Indian Joint Organisation of the Blind organised a march from Raj Ghat to Jantar Mantar in the Capital on Tuesday to mark the 200th birth anniversary of Louis Braille, the inventor of the reading and writing code for the visually challenged.

Organisation president Shobhit Yadav said that after the peaceful march a memorandum listing their demands was handed over to Purnima Singh, Joint Secretary (Handicapped Cell) in the Union Government.

The organisation has demanded one per cent job reservation for the blind in both private and public sectors, reservation of jobs filled by promotions to be extended to all grades, and all provisions banning promotion of the blind in Group A and Group B to be quashed immediately.

The 33-point charter also includes demands for special recruitment drives for the blind by the Central and State governments, full exemption from income tax and provision of unemployment allowance for those registered with the special employment exchange. The organisation has also demanded establishment of shelter homes and workshops for the unemployed and senior citizens with visual disabilities in every State and an increase in the scholarships for students.