IT’S TOO VAGUE TO BE FRUITFUL

Dr Khalid Jamil Akhtar is a versatile scholar, medical professional and a qualified rehabilitationist. He works as the head of Rehabilitation Department, Mayo Hospital, Lahore.

After completing his graduation in medicine and surgery, he took the CSS exam and passed the written part. Unfortunately, he had to bow out when it came to the interview, for he was, though exceptionally talented and ambitious, a physically challenged candidate.

He did not give up and worked with Nilofar Bakhtiar, a federal minister in the Musharraf era, until he emphatically won 2 percent quota for the disabled in the Civil Service.

But now, he has resentments on this flat quota. He had something to say in this regard.

JWT: What are the major hurdles that society may put in the way of the success of a disabled candidate of CSS?

Dr Khalid: There are three types of hurdles the disabled candidates come across while heading toward the fulfillment of their dreams.

FUNCTIONAL hurdle is the one that happens when, for example, a visually impaired person has to identify one colour from two or more than two colours; or someone’s facial features from a mob; or a limping individual has to run fast in pursuit of chasing someone with athletic sprint.

COSMETIC hurdle comes from the social acceptance in perspective of unsuitability of a person in doing some particular task. For example, if a police officer is one-legged, he won’t be accepted as the commander of a regiment curtailing a hurling mob or a procession disrupting assets on the street. His command would remain lesser effective as compared to a physically normal commander.

PERCEPTIVE hurdles stem out from within the psyche of the disabled. After knowing that one can’t work as normally as others do, the disabled goes introvert. He prefers to remain socially alienated. Although one can overcome their psychological block by socialising themselves.

JWT: Kindly enlighten us about the types of disabilities

Dr Khalid: There are four types of disabilities.

JWT: Looking at the disability and its types, what fields do you deem preferable for a disabled candidate?

Dr Khalid: Generally, VISUALLY IMPAIRED people are intellectually very strong. They are good communicators as well. They can go for the Income Tax as talking software and Braille are there to help them. Foreign Service is also a good choice for them.

In China, I met an administrator who was visually impaired, still, he was doing the job quite efficiently. To my eager question, he responded, ‘I have 84 eyes.’ Of course, he was referring to his loyal subordinates’ watchful eyes.

In Japan, I met a civil servant who became a senator when an accident sent him to a wheelchair.

The longest serving president in the history of America, Roosevelt, lost the functionality of his legs during his service in the White House. He never let his people know that he could not stand up or walk independently.

PHYSICAL abnormality can be divided into two subgroups: those who can walk, and those who cannot walk and use a wheelchair.

To those who can walk, I’ll suggest to join any field in the services. However, the one using a wheelchair must be selective and go for the work which is compatible with their ability-limitation, that is, an office work; secretarial job in income tax, etc.

SLOW LEARNERS cannot join the services, for the age limit and the basic but essential criterion shall rightly impediment them.

The ones who suffer from AUDITORY impairment can be good administrators. They are mentally fit, visually fine, and physically normal. What they lack is communication. Therefore, I shall suggest them to work hard and get an administrative job where managerial ability is more needed than the communicative one.

 JWT: What resentment do you quite often experience with respect to this quota design?

Dr Khalid: In my opinion, the dimension of JOB COMPATIBILITY according to impairment is missing in the Civil Services quota for the disabled design. Before allocating quota, the government should refine the design and define:

JWT: What are your recommendations to the policy makers then?

Dr Khalid: I deem it highly vital for both the stakeholders (candidates and the state) that they should take my recommendations into a very serious consideration.

ONE: Before allocating some service to the disabled candidate, the model presented above must be kept in view. Rather, I’d suggest that before letting someone disabled select the subject, there should be some filter intact. This filter would serve as the primary instrument for the compatibility.

This model shall take both the stakeholders into a win-win situation. Neither the candidate shall repent after joining the service which is non-compatible to his limited ability, nor shall the country suffer.

TWO: The evaluation and confirmation of a candidate must NOT be put into effect without the consultation of a rehabilitation consultant. Legislation is needed in this regard.