Disabled man's battle on to get job in Bescom

 
The lack of corporate social responsibility on part of the State’s richest Escom has come out in the open, even as the State government is making amendments to the laws to make them more disabled friendly.

Even 15 years after his appointment as a daily-wage lift operator in Bescom, Shabbir is still in pursuit of regularisation of his service, pending since 2000.

Shabbir was appointed in August 1996 at Bangalore’s Bescom headquarters on K R Circle with a salary of Rs 1,346 a month and an assurance that his service would be confirmed. Despite several letters and recommendations, neither his salary increased nor was he confirmed. This, despite a recommendation from Roshan Baig, Minister of State for Home and Wakf on June 24, 1998.

Following the minister’s letter, then Karnataka Electricity Board Chairman, K P Singh directed for his absorption and a notification was published in November 1998 to recruit three lift attenders. Applications were invited prescribing the minimum educational qualification as passing Class IX.

Recruitment stalled

However, for reasons best known to the management, the process of recruitment was stalled and Shabbir continued to receive only his meagre wages. Even a letter by then chief minister S M Krishna, dated January 20, 2000, failed to work.

His salary has now been enhanced to Rs 2,250, but it is hardly enough to rent a place in the City, leave alone make a living.

On travel

As a result, Shabbir, who has over 80 per cent disability, is forced to shuttle between Channapatna and Bangalore everyday, spending a lion’s share of his earnings on travel.
“I spend nearly 60 per cent of my salary on travelling, which includes auto charge and food,” he said.

Father of two, Shabbir has an ancestral house at Channapatna, with his wife and children dependent on him. Shabbir, who had waited patiently, has now knocked the doors of State Human Rights Commission, which has directed Bescom to recruit him within 15 days.