An NGO run by St Xavier's Non-formal Education Society here ran into controversy after its advertisement said General category candidates will be preferred for job as sanitation workers in an attempt towards social equality through inclusiveness and give impetus to Swachh Bharat campaign.
In a recruitment advertisement for sweepers issued in April, director Prasad Chako of NGO Human Development and Research Centre (HDRC) in an additional clause mentioned that preference will be given to applicants belonging to Brahmin, Kshatriya, Vaniya, Patel, Jain, Saiyad, Pathan, Syrian Christian, and Parsi communities.
The premises of the NGO, situated at St Xavier's College here, had been "gheraoed" for the last two days by people claiming affiliation to little-known outfits like Rajput Shaurya Foudation, Yuva Shakti Sangathan, and a Muslim outfit Sunni Avami Forum.
A delegation of NGOs today met Ahmedabad Collector Avantika Singh and sought the administration's help in the matter, conveying that "there is nothing wrong in the advertisement."
On June 20, a group of over three-four dozen people barged into the premises of the NGO and shouted slogans saying the advertisement was an attempt to denigrate the upper caste.
They came again the next day and allegedly broke windowpanes and earthen pots and shouted slogans seeking immediate apology from the NGO for the "inflammatory advertisement".
In a memorandum submitted to the Collector, a delegation of around 30 members associated with several NGOs in the city, said the aim behind the advertisement was to bring "social equality through inclusiveness".
"HDRC is an NGO working for the rights of oppressed sections of society to ensure their social inclusion and justice. We initiated the recruitment with an aim to give impetus to the Clean India campaign and also ensure social equality," the memorandum said.
"In this context, we decided to provide opportunity to people from all sections of society...It is to request you all to help us bring social equality through inclusiveness.
"The advertisement in question was not intended to hurt any religious, class or community sentiments. There is nothing wrong in the advertisement," it further said.
Secretary of HDRC, Jimmy Dabhi said the timing of the protest is questionable.
"The advertisement was issued in April and suddenly, people of different groups come to our premises and shout slogans. A delegation of NGOs yesterday had also met deputy commissioner of police and today and sought security. All we want to convey is the message of social inclusion," Dabhi said.
