Bangalore, Oct 21: She has brought laurels to the State. Representing Karnataka in national level athletics meets for the specially abled, S R Ambuja, 41, has bagged as many as 44 medals to her credit. Ambuja has been afflicted with polio since birth.
Her laurels include Kittur Rani Chennamma Award, Mahila Ratna Award, Praja Bhushan Award, Indira Gandhi Award, among others. However, her feats in sports have failed to get her a government job. For more than five years now, she is doing the rounds of various government agencies to find that elusive job.
Ambuja is not alone in her quest for a job she desperately needs to support her parents and meet the family’s financial needs.
R Prahlad, 58, has been knocking the doors of the Department of Education to seek medical voluntary retirement since August 2012. However, his efforts have gone unnoticed with the department concerned not willing to take action. Prahlad is the headmaster of the Government Middle School at Devagere near Kengeri.
Currently, Ambuja is working on contract basis with the Defence Bioengineering and Electromedical Laboratory (DEBEL), Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), Indiranagar, as administration assistant. Ambuja had earlier worked as a computer operator at the State Referral Centre for the Disabled, Sanjay Gandhi Institute of Trauma and Orthopedics. But, she had to look for another job when the centre was shut.
“I had applied for jobs in the agriculture department, finance department, among others, under the reserved quota for persons with disabilities. However, I was never given preference nor did they consider my achievements in the sports field.”
Prahlad suffers from a number of health problems since 2001. He applied for Medical Voluntary Retirement Scheme (VRS) in August 2012 and sent a letter in this regard to Higher Education principal secretary Rajneesh Goel.
He is awaiting a response.The authorities of the Medical Board, General Hospital, Jayanagar – following a clinical examination and verification of medical records – confirm that Prahlad suffers from complications of chronic type 2 diabetes mellitus with hypertension, along with other problems such as chronic kidney disease, coronary heart disease and chronic depressive disorder.
“I am unable to carry out my duties as a teacher as I get tired easily. If I get VRS, I can get pension, relax at home and take care of my health. Under medical VRS, there is also a provision wherein children of physically unfit applicants can get a government job,” he said.
Rajneesh Goel, Higher Education department principal secretary and vice-chairman of the Karnataka State Higher Education Council: I have received the records pertaining to Prahlad. The decision has to be taken by the department of Personnel and Administrative Reforms. After they give us the green signal, we can attend to the matter.”
