Disability row: NGO holds protest in front of DDA hqs

A disability rights group today staged a protest in front of the DDA headquarters here, days after the DDA had "relieved" an official as Director of Public Relations allegedly on the ground of his "disability".
Facing flak, the DDA on January 13 had offered differently-abled official Rishi Raj Bhati to rejoin within 15 days if he was "confident to discharge the duties of the post".
"We demand that Bhati must be reinstated back in DDA with full dignity... What happened is a gross violation of human rights that exposes a mind set that still prevails against persons with disabilities in India," Convener, Disabled Rights Group, Javed Abidi said.

A group of people, including a few differently-abled persons, under the banner of the NGO, staged a dharna, in support of Bhati, in front of Vikas Sadan, the headquarters of the housing authority.
Bhati, who has not yet taken any decision on rejoining DDA, had termed the wordings of DDA's letter, "rather condescending" and "derogatory".
"A DDA official called me today and said they would send a fresh rejoining letter. I am still awaiting the letter," he said.

Bhati has alleged that he was sent back to his parent department -- Delhi Transco -- on January 11, a day after he joined the post in Delhi Development Authority, drawing sharp reactions from disability rights activists.

The rejoining letter issued by the office of Commissioner (Personnel) reads, "In the selection process there was no interview and the selection of candidate was purely made on the basis of the CV submitted by the applicants and the documents/information supplied by their parent departments.
"In your case, neither you nor your department mentioned about your physical status. When you reported in DDA for joining the post of Director (PR), only then it came to our notice that you are differently-abled."
DDA has rejected the charge of discrimination, with its official, saying, "This is a wrong allegation. We do not discriminate with anyone on the basis of anything, including physical conditions."

Abidi further said, "What is more unfortunate is that this incident has taken place just within a few days after the enactment of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (RPwD) Act, 2016."
"We appeal to authorities to take the strictest possible action by giving an exemplary punishment in the case," he said.