Notably, in a recent move, an upper IAS officer, Smita Sabharwal, has raised controversy in this connection regarding the necessity of having disability quotas in AIS. Pointing toward the bill, Sabharwal, who is the member secretary of the Telangana Finance Commission, opined that there is no logic to reserve the posts meant for the differently abled in the IAS, IPS, and other AIS services.
As he described the problem of the disabled as a ‘physical fitness’, Sabharwal wondered whether an airline would employ a disabled pilot or a patient would direct his physician who has physical disablement. Her words have angered disability rights activists, who, in turn, charged the bureaucrat with being “completely and utterly ignorant of disability.
Arman Ali of the National Centre for Promotion of Employment for Disabled People said that many disabled people are performing very well, from Major General Ian Cardozo to KRS Jamwal.
Human rights activist Karuna Nundy cited that “most of the disabilities do not have anything to do with stamina or intelligence,” and, therefore, it was unhealthy to have such an enlightened and diverse service as the civil service put off by Sabharwal’s sentiments.
The controversy has arisen while there are choices on the next actions against the IAS officer. Puja Khedkar was selected under the disability category, where she was alleged to have been involved in some acts of misconduct.
The issue has again highlighted the need to develop better policies for offering opportunities to differently abled individuals in India’s top government establishments.
