'Hindu' highlights the Color Blind CSE aspirants issue

‘Consider colour-blind CSE aspirants for non-technical posts’

Yesterday, I highlighted the issue on  this blog here. The leading daily 'The Hindu' has picked up the story today. Here is the report:

Disability rights activists have written to the Secretary (Personnel), Department of Personnel and Training, pointing to the apparent oversight that they say is discriminating against candidates with colour blindness when it comes to their right to earn a livelihood.

In his letter, Dr. Satendra Singh, Coordinator of the Enabling Unit (for persons with disabilities), UCMS and GTB Hospital, said: “High-grade colour vision is required for IPS, RPF and other police services. Low-grade colour vision is acceptable for the other services under Civil Services Examination (CSE).”

He said the criteria does not mention candidates with lower grade colour perception, who are unable to identify all colours. “If such candidates are found fit in all other respects, it is unfair to declare them ‘unfit for all posts’ as is being done. They should be declared ‘unfit for technical posts’ on account of low-grade colour perception,’’ said Dr. Singh.

Civil Services Examination Rules notified by the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT), Government of India, state that a candidate must be in good mental and bodily health and free from any physical defect likely to interfere with discharge of his duties as an officer of the service.

The Central government had constituted Central Standing Medical Boards (CSMB) in seven hospitals across Delhi for conducting medical examinations for candidates appearing for the CSE. Among these are Safdarjung Hospital, Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital, Lok Nayak Jai Prakash Narayan Hospital, Sucheta Kriplani Hospital, Guru Teg Bahadur Hospital, Deen Dayal Upadhyay Hospital and B.R. Ambedkar Hospital.

Dr. Singh said when total colour blindness is caused due to rod monochromism, the vision is poor. This condition renders a candidate unfit for technical posts. They may, however, be fit for non-technical posts.

He has now demanded that as colour blindness is just an impairment, candidates with this condition, who are fit otherwise, should be considered for non-technical posts.

Also, Dr. Singh has asked for candidates who have been declared “unfit for all posts” to be re-examined and placed under “fit for non- technical” category.

Dr. Satendra Singh has asked for candidates who have been declared “unfit for all posts” to be re-examined and placed under “fit for non- technical” category

#ColorBlindness