Learning from Sadasivan

After the initial exchange of pleasantries, I asked the candidate whether he had been born with this disability. He explained that while he was in school, the family had gone for a holiday. While returning home, he had developed viral fever in the train. He became unconscious and had to be hospitalised. On recovering consciousness, he could neither hear nor speak. While speech was restored after treatment, hearing proved elusive.

I was amazed to find from the records that the candidate had stood first in his undergraduate and postgraduate examinations and had nearly completed his PhD. I was curious to how he had accomplished this. He explained that he studied at home and in libraries without any formal education. To my other query as to what his service preferences were, he revealed that he wanted to join the IAS and be a collector in order to serve the common person. When I indicated that a collector is required to meet a large number of people, explain government policies and offer relief to them, and that it may be difficult for him to be an effective collector, he was quick to state that he would take the assistance of his PA and a computer to redress public grievances. I found the candidate enthusiastic, committed and result oriented. Above all, he was a self-made man. He has a thorough knowledge of current affairs, clarity of thought, analytical ability, articulation and confidence. He never gave us the impression that he needed our sympathy in assessing his performance. Overall, he appeared as good, if not better, than many 8220;normal8221; persons.

After the interview, the assessments of my advisors varied from average to very good. We deliberated the matter at length and, as chairman of the interview board, I finally proposed we grade him, disregarding his disability. This was agreed to by all. I distinctly recall that I had also recorded a note urging the government to constitute a committee to identify jobs that can be offered to such a candidate is he were successful. I was very clear that there were many civil service jobs which can be performed competently by such an individual.

When the results were declared, I was happy to find that Sadasivan had emerged at rank 222 out of the 411 successful candidates. Going by his performance and the fact that he was an OBC candidate, he should have undoubtedly got one of the top Civil Services post available. It was dismaying therefore to learn that the government did not find him suitable for any post and that he had to go from pillar to post in order to secure justice. The government8217;s decision clearly demonstrated the apathy shown to disabled persons. Correcting this demands an attitudinal change.

The Central government recruits about 500 persons for the premier Civil Services every year. Hardly a couple of ministries indicate a vacancy or two for physically challenged persons. Even during the current year, only four vacancies have been notified for three services, out of 21 civil services advertised. There is no basis for the determination of vacancies and it is also not clear who takes such decisions in each ministry. It is high time an high-powered committee, with physically challenged persons and dedicated activists as members, was set up to look into the issue.

To begin with, all candidates who are recommended by the UPSC and denied allotment of service should be the first to be offered suitable services 8212; and this includes Sadasivan. There are many areas, apart from job reservations, such as access into public places and transport, where the government needs to get pro-active in order to help the physically challenged to lead dignified lives. Indeed, a separate ministry which will look after the welfare of the disabled would be a step in the right direction.

The writer is a former member, UPSC, and a former Union power secretary