Parents of disabled kids exempted from transfers

Central government employees having disabled children will no more face harassment of routine transfers.

Under a memorandum issued by the Department of Personnel and Training, they will also not feel compelled to opt for voluntary retirement due to their inability to move to a new place with their child.

The Centre last week cleared the order, which says a government servant, who is also a caregiver of a disabled child, may be exempt from routine transfers.

The word “disabled” includes blindness or low vision, hearing impairment, locomotor disability or cerebral palsy, leprosy cured, mental retardation, mental illness and multiple disabilities.

The order said any displacement of such a government employee would have a “bearing on the systemic rehabilitation” of the disabled child since the new environment could prove to be a hindrance for the rehabilitation process.

Touching upon employee’s problems in relocating to a new place, the order pointed out that upbringing and rehabilitation of disabled child requires financial support and “making the government employee to choose voluntary retirement on the pretext of routine transfer or rotation transfer would have adverse impact on the rehabilitation process of a disabled child.”

The order came following demands from several quarters that a government employee with a disabled child should not be allowed to suffer due to displacement by means of routine transfers.

“The support system comprises of preferred linguistic zone, academic level, administration, neighbours, special educators, friends, medical care, including hospitals, therapists and doctors,” the order stated.