Human Rights Forum expresses concerns over Ms. Smita Sabharwal’s take on disability quota in All India Services on 21st July 2024, through social media platform X.
Though we respect her Right to freedom of Expression, Human Rights Forum would like to inform her that ability to go to field work and stamina to listen to grievances required more of sincere commitment to serve for All India Service cadre than physical fitness. Our experience shows that not all IAS officers with working limbs are willing to go to field work and prefer to skip Prajavani – a grievance redressal program. She should keep this reality in mind.
In the controversial tweet, she has questioned if a physically disabled person will be made a pilot or surgeon; implying that IAS service personnel requires physical fitness to deliver duties. She must have realized by now that IAS is mostly a desk job and before questioning the fitness of differently abled people in general, we recommend her to watch Paralympic games.
We would like to remind her that similar arguments were put forth, questioning the physical strength and stamina of women to bar their entry into military services in the past. We are concerned if her personal opinions will affect fairness in the work given the sensitivity of the topic.
We feel that she should unconditionally tender apology to the grieved physically challenged sections.
Dr. S. Thirupathaiah – Telangana State General Secretary.
Dr. K. Babu Rao – Telangana State Committee.
S. Jeevan Kumar – Human Rights Forum Coordination Committee.
Sanjeev – General Secretary, Hyderabad Unit.
26.07.2024,
Hyderabad.