A crusader's lone fight opens up CHS jobs for disabled doctors

After keeping out doctors with disability from over a thousand central health services (CHS) jobs for years, the health ministry has decided to open up teaching, non-teaching and public health specialist cadres of CHS to doctors with disability. The decision was the result of one doctor's relentless fight for justice over four years.

It all began in 2011, when Dr Satendra Singh, who became an assistant professor of Physiology in the University College of Medical Sciences and Guru Tegh Bahadur Hospital in Delhi in 2008, applied for the post of assistant professor (physiology) in the Teaching Specialist sub-cadre of CHS through the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC). He received no interview call.

Dr Singh, whose right leg is affected by polio, is certified as having 70% locomotor disability of the lower limb. The Medical Council of India has extended 3% reservation for persons with disability in medical college admissions, open only to students with locomotor disability of the lower limb between 40% and 70%. However, many such students who completed their MBBS and post-graduation were being kept out of services for which recruitment is done through the UPSC. "They are never told why they are rejected. I have a permanent job. I am in Delhi. How many doctors with disability who were rejected by UPSC can go to court or even approach the UPSC?" said Dr Singh, who is also a member of the Delhi Medical Council.

According to Dr Singh, he mentioned his disability in the application form because it demanded the information and not because he wanted to be selected under the disability quota. "On getting no interview call, I enquired at the UPSC recruitment cell and was told I am not fit to apply as I was disabled. This, despite the fact that I was already working as an assistant professor in a medical college under a central university," said Dr Singh.

He then approached the Central Administrative Tribunal, which asked the UPSC to call him for interview. He was called, but did not get selected. In 2013, seeing an ad for the same post, he applied just to find out if things had changed for disabled candidates. In the online form, when he filled the boxes on disability, type and percentage, the registration flashed, "sorry, you are not eligible for the post." Nothing had changed.

Dr Singh approached the court of the Chief Commissioner for persons with disability and the health ministry and got permission to apply for the posts, but UPSC cancelled all interviews in physiology, for reasons not known. "I was allowed to apply, but what about other candidates like me? I wanted the policy changed for all candidates with disability and not just for me and so I decided to follow up the issue," said Dr Singh.

Through an RTI application, Dr Singh found out that all specialist jobs under CHS, whether teaching, non-teaching or public health, were deemed not suitable for persons with disabilities. "To be granted an MBBS or MD/MS (post-graduation) degree, all disabled medical students attend clinical postings, operation theatres, OPDs and emergency postings during internship. How could they say we are not suitable? It was shocking. So, in December 2014, I wrote to the health minister requesting that all specialist posts under CHS be opened for doctors with disabilities," said Dr Singh.

Though the minister sought action, it was only after repeated reminders and phone calls to ministry officials that Dr Singh was finally told that all CHS posts were open to persons with disabilities. However, they did not give him a copy of the order. It took an RTI application for him to eventually get a copy on June 6.

Thanks to Dr Singh's persistence, 756 posts in the teaching specialist sub-cadre, 770 posts in non-teaching specialist sub-cadre and 78 posts in public health specialist sub-cadre have been thrown open to doctors with disabilities.

"PM Modi tweeted on World Disability Day that we, the people with disabilities, are 'heroes'. Unfortunately, these heroes have to go to courts for their rights and a government doctor has to file an RTI to get a government order," lamented Dr Singh.

Source: Times of India, 14 June 2015

'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

Are we rejecting Color Blind Civil Services candidates because of an oversight?

Civil Services Examination is conducted in terms of the provisions of Civil Services Examination (CSE) Rules notified by Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT), Government of India. Rule 21 of these rules provide that a candidate must be in good mental and bodily health and free from any physical defect likely to interfere with the discharge of his duties as an officer of the service. A candidate, who after such medical examination as the Central Government or the Appointing Authority, as the case may be, may prescribe, is found not to satisfy these requirements, will not be appointed.  The Central Government constituted Central Standing Medical Boards (CSMB) in the seven designated hospitals in Delhi for conduct of medical examination of candidates in CSE.

Medical examination of these candidates are being conducted in seven designated hospitals in Delhi viz. Safdarjung Hospital, Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital, Lok Nayak Jai Prakash Narayan Hospital, Succheta Kriplani Hospital, Guru Teg Bahadur Hospital, Deen Dayal Upadhyay Hospital and BR Ambedkar Hospital.

However, a medical oversight in the medical examination is hampering the careers of civil service candidate with color blindness.  High grade Color Vision is required for 'Technical' posts like IPS, Other Police Services, 1RTS and RPF. Low Grade Colour Vision or in other words Color blindness is acceptable for 'Non-technical' services (rest of the services under CSE).

With respect to color vision, the point number 11(f) on page 18 of the “Appendix III Regulations relating to the physical examination of candidates” (http://persmin.gov.in/ais1/Docs/Appendix-III.pdf ) states:

11(f) Color Vision: Color Vision will be examined with the help of following two techniques:

1. Edrige Green's Lantern technique: Color perception should be graded into higher and lower grade depending upon the size of aperture in the lantern as described in the table below:-

Grade	Higher grade color perception	Lower grade color perception
1	2	3
Distance between the lamp and candidate	16 ft	16 ft
Size of aperture	1.3 mm.	13mm.
Time of exposure	5 seconds	5 seconds

2. Ishihara's Plates.

Earlier, Ishihara's plates were used aloe to test color perception. Now Lantern test is used to grade the color perception. The above table is the cause of controversy. Those who fail 'higher grade color perception' are color blind but subjecting them further to 'lower grade color perception' test further classify candidates into pass/fail which is immaterial as all applicant with color blindness are FIT for Non-Technical posts as per rules.

The table makes no mention of candidates with lower grade of color perception who are unable to identify all the colors when the size of the aperture is 13mm.

If such candidates are found fit in all other respects, it is unfair to declare them “UNFIT FOR ALL POSTS” as is being done at present. Instead they should be declared “UNFIT FOR TECHNICAL” on account of low grade color perception.

As per the medical experts, the table above should be modified as follows so as to remove this injustice to a section of persons with low grade color perception:

1. Edrige Green's Lantern technique: Colour perception should be graded into higher and lower grade as described in the table below:-

Distance between the lamp and candidate	16 ft
Size of aperture	1.3 mm
Time of exposure	5 seconds
Interpretation	Makes no errors: High grade color perception Makes even one error when tested twice after 15 minutes of dark adaptation: Low grade color perception*

*The possibility that persons who fail the lantern test as described above have no color vision is remote since total color blindness is extremely rare:

1. When total color blindness is due to rod monochromism, the vision is poor and there is nystagmus – rendering such a candidate unfit for techical posts. They may, however, be fit for those nontechnical posts where persons with visual disability can be employed.

2. When total color blindness is due to cone monochromism, the vision may be normal and there is no reason to believe that such people cannot hold nontechnical posts.

I wrote to Chief Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities but since 'Color Blindness' is NOT  a disability (less than 40% and otherwise) so they can not do anything. I then wrote to both Ministry of Health and Family Welfare as well as Secretary, DoPT but there has been no response so far.

I have requested them to urgently intervene in the matter and pass appropriate instructions so that:

A)  All those candidates who are found fit in all other aspects but fail to to identify all the colors (in lower grade of perception) when the size of the aperture is 13mm SHOULD NOT be declared "unfit for all posts". 

B). As color blindness is just an impairment and these candidates are fit otherwise, these should be considered for "Non-technical' posts.

C). All such candidates who have been declared "unfit for all posts" in all the 7 hospitals should be reexamined and placed under "fit for Non- technical" category.

D). An urgent notification should be issued since the medical examinations are currently going on.

I hope our Government take urgent steps so that qualified color blind civil services candidates are not unduly rejected because of an medical oversight.


Impact

'The Hindu' carried the news next day. Here is the link:

Consider color-blind CSE aspirants for non-technical posts (Hindu, 7 June 2015)

Disabled cricket lovers want equal access to Kotla

TIMES OF INDIA. Manash Pratim Gohain, TNN | May 12, 2015, 02.38AM IST

NEW DELHI: The Court of Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities, national capital territory of Delhi, has directed the chief administrator of Delhi and District Cricket Association to respond to a representation stating that the Feroz Shah Kotla stadium "has huge steps without side railings. There is no separate queue for spectators with disability. There is no reserved parking or reserved seat, and even toilets are not disabled-friendly".

The petitioner requests CCPD to instruct DDCA to make Kotla accessible to spectators with disabilities within one year, before the T20 World Cup and IPL 2016 are hosted there. He also suggests some measures to make the stadium barrier-free.

In his petition to CCPD on April 29, activist Dr Satendra Singh, who is coordinator, enabling unit, at University College of Medical Science, Delhi University, has said that "the Feroz Shah Kotla cricket stadium in Delhi is not accessible to people with disabilities, so we, our families and friends cannot enjoy equal access to entertainment, recreation, and leisure. I am unable to watch IPL T20 or other matches scheduled at this venue".

Article 30 of United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD) puts onus on states to enable disabled to participate on an equal basis with others in recreation, leisure and sporting activities. "The legal requirements under PWD Act 1995 and, more importantly, obligation under ratification of UNCRPD by India must be taken account by DDCA in making reasonable adjustment to physical barriers and services in existing and new stadia," Singh said.

Singh has suggested reserved seats for disabled, wheelchair-accessible seats, companion seats and reserved accessible parking close to the entrance gate. A separate exit for disabled spectators is a good idea. The path to the stadium and seat should be made in such a way that even a wheelchair user can move independently. All routes should be level or have the shallowest possible gradient.

There must be accessible toilets, lift to reach all vertical levels and ramped access, and a dedicated officer to look into any problem a spectator with disability may have during the match. The contact number of this person should be present on all tickets reserved for spectators with disabilities, Singh says.

#DaretoCare

No national data on HIV/AIDS among disabled, reveals RTI

I earlier shared my article published in RHiME highlighting people with disabilities living with HIV/AIDS as the missing voices in National AIDS response. I backed it up with RTI's and than complained to the Court of Commissioner, Disabilities GNCTD. The Delhi State AIDS Control Society (DSACS) took my suggestions in positive light and now has written to NACO. The later, however, doesn't have any national data on people with disabilities living with HIV/AIDS.

No national data on HIV/AIDS among differently-abled, reveals RTI

THE HINDU, NEW DELHI, May 10, 2015

The Capital has nine antiretroviral treatment centres, but none of them has information on the alternate format for blind or sign language interpreters for deaf people, who are living with HIV.

This is as per a Right to Information reply obtained by disability rights activist Satendra Singh from University College of Medical Sciences and GTB Hospital, Delhi.

Stating that persons with disabilities are the missing voices in India’s national AIDS response, the physician noted that in the first report of its kind, UNAIDS Gap report 2014 had identified 12 populations at higher risk of HIV (of which people with physical disability is one) and emphasised covering these to close the gap.

This Gap report estimates that India has the third largest number of people living with HIV in the world and accounts for about 4 out of 10 people living with HIV in the region.

“The National AIDS Control Organisation (NACO) in its response to an RTI had noted that they do not have any national data on HIV/AIDS prevalence among people with disabilities,’’ said Dr. Singh.

He added that the NACO annual report of 2013-14 too does not feature a single word with ‘disability’ or ‘persons with disabilities’. Disability is also not mentioned in the HIV/AIDS (Prevention & Control) Bill 2014 as introduced in the Rajya Sabha.

“The Delhi State AIDS Control Society (DSACS) has accepted the lacunae and responded stating that suggestions have been conveyed to NACO to include people with disabilities living with HIV in national response, convert all info on sexual and reproductive services AIDS/HIV in accessible format, prevalence among disabled to be included in next survey, disability questions to be used in existing survey,” said Dr. Singh.

“We have also suggested that State Commissioner of Disabilities be part of State AIDS Control & Prevention Societies. Also, the Medical Council of India has written to include disability studies to be part of the MBBS curriculum and Delhi Medical Council to issue instructions to Hospitals and Clinics to be disabled friendly,” he added.

People living with disability (PWD) are world’s largest minority and hence part of every social group included as vulnerable and risk group in UNAIDS Gap report.

“There is also low awareness of HIV among PWDs. The 2007 survey done in rural areas of India revealed the fact that one-fifth of people interviewed had never heard of HIV and is a cause for great concern. People with mental or developmental disabilities generally lack the ability to develop the social skills to recognise predatory behaviour and avoid vulnerable situation. The situation is same for wheelchair users isolated in homes and restricted from communicating with society,” noted Dr. Singh.

Singh S. India’s AIDS response: the missing voices of persons with disabilities. RHiME [Internet]. 2015 Jan 12 [cited 2015 Feb 14];1:[about 8p.].

Govt of India's ambitious #AccessibleIndia Campaign (#SugamyaBharat Abhiyan)

Govt plans app for the disabled

Manash Pratim Gohain, TNN | May 1, 2015, 04.07AM IST
NEW DELHI: Now a person with disability or any other person will be able to upload pictures and status of accessibility of buildings and public spaces via an app on the portal to be created by the ministry of social justice and empowerment. 

The ministry is creating the dedicated portal for the disabled where they can directly forward their grievances for action. 
The Centre's ambitious Accessible India Campaign ( Sugamya Bharat Abhiyan) will start from seven states - Delhi, Tamil Nadu, Gujarat, Assam, Rajasthan, Maharashtra and Haryana- from this year envisaging a nation-wide awareness campaign towards universal accessibility for all citizens including persons with disabilities. 

According to senior officials of the ministry, it has created a dedicated program management unit, steering committee and other sub-committees in the ministry with representation of professionals and experts to create media strategy and media planning, conduct awareness workshops for sensitization of all key stake holders as identified and creation and dissemination of educational booklets for spreading the awareness. The next stage is to sign MoU with various ministries and state government agencies for their role and responsibilities for the campaign. This nationwide flagship campaign is aimed at achieving universal accessibility for Persons with Disabilities (PwDs). 

According to 2011 census over 2.2% of the population is disabled, while the erstwhile Planning Commission estimated that 5% of the population of India is disabled. According to WHO 8% of the Indian population is disabled. 

The meeting had representatives from national institutes (visual, hearing and physically handicapped) and office of chief commissioner for persons with disability. State government officials and representatives from ministries like labour, social welfare, health, sports and youth affairs, urban development, civil aviation, rural development and ASI, Delhi Metro and CPWD, were also present. 

In line with "Nothing about us, without us", the steering committee had representation from disability sector which includes Svayam, Samarthyam, Enabling Unit of the University College of Medical Sciences, Delhi University and National Association for the Blind giving critical inputs. 

While the plan is to achieve a barrier free environment for the PwDs in next five years, the initial impetus is on capacity building and awareness campaign.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/delhi/Disabled-cricket-lovers-want-equal-access-to-Kotla/articleshow/47240825.cms

Inspiring Stories: Dr Satendra Singh-A HERO in himself!

Featured in the 'Inspiring Stories' section of the Inspiration Unlimited eMagazine with a viewership from 95+ countries. The section is a collection of personal Interviews with celebrated leaders, entrepreneurs, corporate honchos or any success stories.

Life itself is full of challenges and if you are leading a life without challenges, then you are not at all living - says Dr. Satendra Singh a MBBS with MD, and now a disability activist who has faced denials with a feeling as if they were blessings in disguise. Having contracted poliomyelitis at a tender age of 9 years, he has found inspiration at every step of life

Read full article here: Dr Satendra Singh- A HERO in himself!