Satyam Samaj Seva Samiti

CHANDIGARH: 32 disabled candidates were shortlisted on the spot by various companies  which participated in the ability 2013: "Opening New Doors Towards Inclusive Employment of Persons with Disability" , a job fair organised jointly by Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) NR and National Institute for Technical Teachers' Training and Research (NITTR) at NITTR, Sector 26, Chandigarh. It was specifically organised to open new doors of employment for the disabled (differently abled) candidiates and help them earn a livelihood. Around 50 differently abled candidates participated in the drive, out of which 65 % were orthopaedically handicapped including polio inflicted, 10 % were hearing impaired and 25 % were visually challenged.

J S Saini, Professor and Head of Rural Development Department & Centre for Physically Challenged Persons, NITTTR shared that "Ability job fairs have been able to provide jobs to 155 for differently abled persons till now, which started in 2010. Ability 2013 is the 7th edition. In India, there are approximately 265 lakhs PWDs, out of which 20 % do not reach adult hood and same % do not reach 4th decade of their lives. The sad irony is that a vast majority, i.e 75 % of PWDs live in rural India where as 95 % of NGOs restrict their work in urban areas. I appeal to NGOs to operate from rural areas as well".

NAGPUR: In the latest scam to hit Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC), remuneration for 890 workers supposed to be working at booths administering pulse polio vaccine were siphoned off by officials concerned. Each of the 890 booths was shown to be having three workers while in fact it had only two. The total amount embezzled in two drives this year comes to around Rs 8 lakh, sources said. NMC conducted pulse polio drives beginning January 20 and February 24. Official figures say, 3,030 workers including anganwadi sevikas, medical college students, NGOs' activists etc were appointed at 1,100 polio booths. The record shows remuneration of Rs 75 per head per day was released for January's six-day drive that includes one day of vaccination at booths and five day door-to-door campaign. Besides, wages for drive conducted on Sunday (Feb 24) was released a day before.According to the data provided by the NMC itself, three workers are engaged at 890 polio booths while two at 210 booths. Pulse polio programme officer Dr SS Shende claimed there was no irregularity and three workers were present at 890 booths. "I and my officials inspected the booths.

We divide the payment of three workers among two when one is absent," he claimed. Even if this was true, it is wrong practice as Rs 75 remuneration is fixed by the Government and no one has power to change it. Government norms say there should be three workers at booths where more than 100 kids are expected. One for administering the drops, other for holding the baby, marking on finger and one for making entry. One of the three also has to roam in the area and prompt parents about the drive.