Karunanidhi breaks schedule to meet, convince protesters to withdraw stir
Special Correspondent Differently-abled persons were demanding government jobs lending an ear:Chief Minister M.Karunanidhi interacting with differently-abled persons, at the Government General Hospital in Chennai on Friday. Chennai: Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi had an unscheduled appointment on Friday. After learning from the morning newspapers that differently-abled persons were on hunger strike for the third day, he landed up at the Government General Hospital even before his breakfast. Delighted to see the Chief Minister personally arriving to listen to their grievances, the differently-abled persons gave vent to their sorrow. Saying their families shunned them, they pleaded for government employment. Informing them that the government had a separate department for the differently-abled, the Chief Minister told them that they should have approached him personally for redress of grievances. Promising to fulfil their demand within a week, Mr. Karunanidhi asked them to give up their fast and go home. Based on the Chief Minister's assurance, they gave up their protest. Assuring them that the government order would be passed soon, Mr. Karunanidhi returned home for his breakfast, stated an official release. According to it, the government had appointed 77 visually impaired persons trained at the special educators training school in Poonamallee but could not provide jobs immediately to 72 more differently-abled persons from the same school. As per norms, 2 per cent of special educators' posts are reserved for visually impaired and 1 percent for differently-abled. The latter were informed that they would also be appointed through Teachers Recruitment Board as and when vacancies arose. Contending that the government should not differentiate among impaired persons, the differently-abled launched a hunger strike on Wednesday. Despite the Chennai District Welfare Officer for the Disabled promising to take up the issue and in spite of being admitted to the GH, they continued their strike till the Chief Minister met them, the release added. Date:29/05/2010 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2010/05/29/stories/2010052962350400.htm To unsubscribe send a message to accessindia-requ...@accessindia.org.in with the subject unsubscribe. To change your subscription to digest mode or make any other changes, please visit the list home page at http://accessindia.org.in/mailman/listinfo/accessindia_accessindia.org.in
