In a distressing incident, differently abled candidates were forced to crawl into the UPSC examination centre at Balamandiram Higher Secondary School in Madurai on Sunday, as they were not allowed to carry their essential support gear inside. This included items such as elbow crutches, calipers, and wheelchairs, which are crucial for their mobility.
The candidates alleged that the supervisors at the exam centre outrightly denied them permission to bring their essential aids inside, despite knowing that these candidates could not operate without them. P. Shanmugavel, one of the 16 differently abled candidates at the centre, described his plight, saying, “I produced a letter permitting me to use a pillow to sit on due to a spinal injury and my elbow crutch, without which I cannot move on my own. Still, I was not allowed to carry them inside.”
Shanmugavel highlighted that this was not the case in previous years, and there was no prior information about any new permission procedures for this year’s exam.
The situation forced about five candidates with elbow crutches, one candidate with polio using a caliper, and another candidate with a wheelchair to crawl from the gate to the examination hall. Since the rules forbid entry for anyone other than candidates, those with locomotive disorders had to either crawl or be carried by fellow candidates.
Further exacerbating the issue, basic facilities such as ramps and toilets were poorly arranged, according to Shanmugavel. He criticized the supervisors for not considering how differently abled candidates would access the toilets during the examination without their assistance devices. “They could have very well used metal detectors to scan the devices. When they allow spectacles, which are also an assistance device, why can’t they allow wheelchairs and elbow crutches?” he questioned.
A. Balamurugan, district secretary of the Tamil Nadu Association for the Rights of All Types of Differently Abled and Caregivers, emphasized that government examinations like UPSC are crucial for disabled candidates, as private organizations often do not provide employment opportunities. He stated, “When they fight hard for sustenance, the act of not permitting their assistance equipment is against their rights.”
Balamurugan also pointed out that the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act 2016 mandates facilities like ramps and wheelchairs should be provided at any cost, making the authorities’ actions not only unethical but also illegal.
