They are physically challenged but not mentally. They have the guts to
compete in terms of knowledge and skill against physically abled
candidates in any sector, but unhelpful infrastructure deters them from
coming forward to meet the challenge.
After a huge struggle, Ramesh Baral got a job seven months ago with the
help of Karuna Foundation, an organization which works for the disabled.
Baral, 29, lost his left hand in a machinery accident when he was 11
years old.
Although Baral has no left hand, he does not allow this disability to
overshadow happiness in his life. He is now working at the health care
financing section of GIZ Nepal, the German organization which works to
reduce poverty and foster the overall development of the country.
“At some point, we need to have jobs. But for disabled people like me,
it is very difficult to get a job opportunity as we need a few other
things along with the job,” says Baral. “Most people believe that they
have to change the entire structure of their office if they employ a
disabled person, but this is not true. They have to change just minor
things such as putting in a wheelchair ramp and a commode in the
toilet,” he adds.
Baral, who is also working on a PhD in rural development from Tribhuwan University, thinks that there is moreover an altitudinal barrier to overcome. People still behave differently toward disabled people. The disabled face this kind of problem even with their office colleagues. He regards himself as lucky as his own colleagues do not show any such behavior towards him.
“At the end of the day, what a company needs is skilled manpower, not
good physical appearance, and disabled people need to just prove
themselves to sell their talent,” opines Baral. “Many people with
various disabilities do not want to come into the job as there is no
disabled-friendly infrastructure at the work place.”
Like Baral, Amrita Gyawali, a wheelchair user, recently landed a job after a lot of struggle. The 24-year-old is working as a consultant at WaterAid Nepal. Gyawali lost her parents at the age of three in an accident while they were coming from Lucknow to Nepal. She herself suffered spinal injury.
“It´s very difficult to get a job, especially for someone in a
wheelchair. From negotiating the stairs to going to the toilet, we need
everything that is disabled-friendly, and many organizations fail to
provide that,” says Gyawali. “But I am lucky. My office has shifted my
cabin to the ground floor and it is easy for me to reach there.
Similarly, the office also provides me transport facilities.”
Similarly, Shusila Dhakal, a non-gazetted first class officer at the Inland Revenue Department at Lazimpat, was born with both hands missing. She uses her feet to do her writing, typing and other tasks.
A permanent resident of Syangja, Dhakal thinks the government should encourage disabled people to seek employment opportunities. “Everything is possible, the disabled can do many things like a physically normal person. The government should provide for disabled-friendly infrastructure.”
Like Baral, Gyawali and Dhakal, Bhumi Kala Poudel, 32, has done a lot to prove herself. She works now as a secretary at the SiSM-2 (support for improvement of school management) project of the Department of Education. She cannot walk properly because she contracted polio when she was three years old.
“We have to fight for our rights. Many skilled but disabled people remain unemployed,” says Poudel.
Like, Baral, Gyawali, Dhakal and Poudel, many disabled people who are employed feel that the disabled with skills do not get any job simply because of lack of disabled-friendly infrastructure. According to the Situation Analysis of Persons with Disabilities report published in 2001, only five percent of the total population of the disabled in Nepal have jobs. However, several career expos have been organized to encourage them.
National Federation of Disabled-Nepal (NFDN), an umbrella outfit representing various disabled organizations, is also going to organize a career expo for the disabled. The day-long expo is to be held at the United World Trade Center on December 13. It is taking place with the support of the Ministry of Women, Children and Social Welfare, UNICEF Nepal, Merojob.com and other entities.
“Last year, 28 disabled people landed jobs. And I hope this year more of them will do so,” said Sudarshan Dhakal, president of NFDN.
Source : Republica , 12th December 2013
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