Harassment of visually impaired candidate condemned
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, October 24 2024: Disabled-People's Rights Organisation (DPRO), Manipur has strongly condemned alleged harassment of one Khwairakpam Joykumar, a visually impaired candidate, by staffers of Mark Academy, Changangei on October 21 during conduct of the multi-tasking staff and havildar (CBIC&CBN) examination by the Staff Selection Commission (SSC) North Eastern Region.

Addressing the media at Manipur Press Club here on Thursday, DPRO information secretary Roben contended that Joykumar's case is not an isolated incident, as the same Academy had also mistreated differently-abled candidates during examinations.

According to Roben, staff of the academy had previously insisted that candidates furnish additional documents not prescribed by the examination conducting agencies.

Taking serious note of continued discrimination against the differently-abled candidates, he urged authorities concerned to blacklist the institution from handling future examinations.

During the press meet, Khwairakpam Joy-kumar recounted that he reached the exam centre with a scribe, who is a class IX student, carrying all the prescribed documents, including Aadhaar and school ID cards.

As per the guidelines, the scribe's educational qualification should be lower than that of the differently-abled candidate.

However, an official at the centre demanded the scribe's class VIII certificate, he disclosed.

Joykumar maintained that as he explained about the guidelines to the official, another staff member verbally abused and intimidated him, and forced him out of the centre.

State Platform for Disabled People's Organisation (SP-DPO) also condemned the incident, as it tantamount to intentional undermining about plight and challenges faced by differently-abled individuals.

The organisation called for suitable action against those responsible for the misconduct.

The media briefing was held a day after the Academy clarified that there were no instances of harassment or ill-treatment of candidates with disability during the examination.

Comment