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| Tuesday, 12 March 2002 |
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Letters | |
| News Business Features Editorial Security Politics World Sports Obituaries
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Indifference of employers to the disabled While much publicity is given in the printed and electronic media to the concepts of equal opportunities, the partially disabled in Sri Lanka are struggling to secure employment. This is due to the rather indifferent attitude of most employers and their inherent reluctance to grant employment to the disabled. Strangely the odd cases when disabled are given employment is afforded wide publicity. This is more as a propaganda gimmick possibly to enhance the image of the company. I was one of the participants at a seminar that was conducted by the Employers Federation of Sri Lanka, a few months ago with the objective of creating an awareness among the employers of the unenviable predicament of the partially but employable disabled and to impress upon the employers of their moral obligation in this respect. While much was said and discussed with pious resolutions, I am aware it has not had the desired effect. At this seminar chief executive officer of a reputed firm highlighted the case of a young man suitably qualified in his own, trained abroad and with adequate experience who was partially disabled after an accident but employable. The disability he maintained would not impede the performance of his duties. While he stated that there was no suitable position in his particular company he made a passionate plea to give an opening to this young man, if there was an opening commensurate with his qualifications and experience. Interested in helping this young man I contacted him and subsequently interviewed him. While I was very impressed with him, regrettably there was no suitable position in his particular field of specialisation in my company that I could have placed him. However, I continue to keep in touch with him to try and help him to secure some gainful employment. The Employers Federation of Sri Lanka in its news letter has also requested its member companies to consider him for employment in a position commensurate with his qualifications and experience. He, however, laments that there has been no response. This indeed is regrettable that the EFC with over 450 member companies, no company is able to provide employment to this young man. I was surprised when he related his frustrating experience of attending a selection interview at a reputed garment establishment a few days ago. As he walked into the room with the crutch, where the interview was conducted the human resources manager had curtly told him "In your present state we cannot offer employment". Where are the equal opportunities, that is so much spoken about? Why this callous attitude? The apathy and indifference of most employers towards the employable disabled is regrettable. The disabled in this country are silent sufferers of humanity. Nearly 10% of the citizens are disabled. While some authorities lull them with terms 'differently disabled', 'partially disabled', 'totally disabled', the change of nomenclature does not serve any purpose to the individual person concerned. The fact is that of the 10% disabled one fourth of this percentage is only partially disabled and employable. Regrettably while little has been done by the Ministry and Department of Social Services, most employers regrettably are reluctant to give employment to the disabled. What a tragedy!! D.S.T. JAYARATNE-Colombo 7.
Parents want to give their children a quality education. This led them to run after famous schools leaving their nearby schools, which are suffering from teacher vacancies and inferior facilities. Grandpass Al-Nasser Muslim Maha Vidyalaya is an institution with more than fifty years of service record and with less attention of authorities. Still it is floating for solution, it needs. More than 16 teacher posts are vacant since no one who is responsible takes necessary actions to overcome this problem even after several representations. Due to this parents are rushing to admit their loved ones in schools two or three kilometres away from Al-Nasser Not only Al-Nasser but also most of Muslim and Tamil schools in the Western Province are treated this way leading to unwanted rumours. May be it is better to accept that they have been truly ignored. This should be an eye-opener to those affected and those interested such as Old Boys and Parents in developing Al-Nasser and others. M. AZMYSALIH - Colombo 14
Politicians promising to resign if they don't attain certain goals had become the butt of many a joke of this country. We had several such broken promises in the past and we all know what happened to them. Resigning on a threat or on failure of performance is one thing, but promising to resign if one cannot fulfil his duty is another thing. Yet, it is surprising that a person of the calibre of Karu Jayasuriya also getting himself into this knot. When a genuine politician (whether there is a variety as such in Sri Lanka is yet to be seen) makes a promise to attain a goal he must try his level best to achieve it by all means. However, due to genuine reasons, he fails to fulfil it within a given time frame. His resignation is not going to rectify the situation or profit the country - rather it can make matters worse. In any endeavour there are always unseen problems, especially so in case of electricity, given the present situation of weather, power generators etc., Just tempting providence when one makes threats of this nature, or promises which may or may not be achievable. Best is to give a time frame, try our level best and even if we don't reach the goal in time, we carry on. We must remember there is an unseen hand that can accelerate or impair the achievement. Sri Lankans are clever enough to know whether the Politicians try hard enough or not. Let's do away with rhetorics and get on. DR. MRS. MAREENA REFFAI-Dehiwela
Air pollution has reached alarming levels around 85 times acceptable norms in Colombo resulting in a drastic increase of respiratory ailments as highlighted in the press. The consequent cost to state and citizen from medical bills, damage eco-system and health would run to many millions per day. To improve this situation some of the matters needing urgent attention are: 1. Exhaust pollution has to be controlled by enforcing fitness standards and providing better fuel. 2. Running time has to be reduced by inducing free flow eliminating the daily traffic jams. 3. Vehicles on the road have to be reduced by providing efficient, comfortable, cheap, pollution-free public transport. Desperate situations demand desperate remedies. A drastic but effective short term remedy would be to declare main roads to the city one way for one hour at peak times, doubling the capacity of each road for that period. Traffic in the opposite direction will adjust travelling times to suit. Less running time, less fuel consumption, less pollution, less fuel imports.A medium and long term solution would be increasing the frequency of trains followed by electrification and development of a system of electric railways with its own dedicated power supply without strain on State coffers by contracting on a Plan, Build, Operate, and Transfer basis with a country like Japan having a proven track record in these fields. Most people travelling to Tokyo drive only to the nearest railway station. LINCOLN WIJEYESINGHE - Dehiwala
The whole country is eagerly looking forward to a peaceful solution to the ethnic crisis in our land. It is now an opportune time for us all to get involved in the peace process. I would therefore suggest that the state designates a particular day (or perhaps a week) for national reconciliation in a meaningful manner. I would suggest two particular ways in which ordinary individuals could participate: 1. Start a fund to rebuild the Jaffna public library and invite the public to contribute towards it. I understand the several millions would be required for this reconstruction. The wanton destruction of this library by a group of misguided persons some years ago was a despicable act. We should all be ashamed of it. Let us therefore show our heartfelt regret in a tangible way. 2. I would also suggest that Sinhala families in the South be requested to invite at least one Tamil friend or family living close by for a meal (or even a cup of tea) in our homes on this particular day or week. Thereby we could express our earnest desire to live with our Tamil brethren in peace and harmony in the future. Those of us like me, who belong to a former generation, yearn to see the day when we can live with our Tamil brethren in peace, harmony and brotherly love, just as we used to a few decades ago. We can resolve our problems only in a spirit of mutual understanding, love and forgiveness form everyone. May God melt our hard hearts and help us achieve this is my earnest prayer. DR. RILEY FERNANDO- Mt. Lavinia
Several letters on various issues relating to the recent train disaster off Rambukkana appeared in the Daily News of February 11. I wish to refer to a few hearsay and factual aspects hoping that the probe team will cover such aspects as well at the public inquiry currently in progress and publish the findings and recommendations for the information of the general public. It is pertinent to find out as to the extent and duration of duty turns the driver was engaged on before taking charge of the Intercity Express Train on January 13 from Kandy to Colombo. If he did not have adequate rest before taking charge of that train, how was it humanly possible for a driver to operate and control the locomotive of that express train satisfactorily? It is not totally conjectural to assume that he would have been dozing off and on at the controls until perhaps alerted by his assistant in drawing attention to the signal aspects enroute. Was the 'driver vigilant relay' functioning at the time while operating the locomotive to keep him on the alert? Were the drivers permitted to assign themselves on duty turns? If so a perusal of his paysheets will reveal the extent of his propensity for earning overtime and Sunday pay. If such a practice is now in vogue it should be stopped forthwith and proper supervision has to be exercised in assigning duty turns. A Sinhala daily Lakbima referred to locomotive drivers as engineers in one of the news reports connected with the train disaster on January 13 off Rambukkana. Since an 'engineer' according to Sri Lanka standards should possess appropriate academic or professional qualifications, the probe team may also look into the circumstances leading to the change of their designation to 'locomotive operating engineers' and their absorption to the 'Sri Lanka Technical Service'. If the current usage is not considered proper and if they do not wish to call themselves locomotive drivers, they may use "locomotive operators" as their designation deleting the term 'engineers'. It was reported that a 'foreign expert' was required to assist the probe team. A foreigner may perhaps not be familiar with our upcountry tracks over which locomotives have to negotiate sharp reverse curves and steep gradients of 1 in 44 at 20 m.p.h. Is it not considered sufficiently suitable to enlist the services of a retired or in-service railway chief mechanical engineer or even an experienced driver engaged for operating locomotives on the main line to assist in the investigation? A.C.C. - Ratmalana
DCS of Kotte (DN 7.2.02) has made a very valuable suggestion "Sri Lankans - let's contribute our mite" at a time when our country requires full cooperation and support from each one of us, whether rich, not so rich, poor or even the poorest of the poor. I read with great interest, an article written by a foreigner, on what the Sri Lankans have done to the country. I agree with him that we should not question as to what the country has done for us but have an answer to what we have done to the country. Coming back to DCS's suggestion, there would be pertinent questions as regards the logistics of the issue. But we now know that Singapore has already been successful as far back as in 1968, when, Lee Kuan Yew, has begun his major development of his country by taking Sri Lanka as an example. A carefully planned procedure, with honest countrymen (there are several in this country) would definitely become a successful venture. People yearn for peace and prosperity these days. By 'contributing our mite' we Sri Lankans would involuntarily become more patriotic and thereby the country would achieve prosperity which is the need of the hour. J. FERNANDO- Ratmalana
It is left for the voter to punish these law breakers When the authorities fail to enforce the laws of the land, it is upto the people to find a solution. As far as the election law banning the use of polythene and display of posters is concerned even the executive powers vested in the President have failed to implement it. The present situation is ideal to eradicate this menace which has become a major source of pollution and a colossal wastage. When the head of state represent one major party and head of government the other they have only to instruct and insist members and supporters of their respective parties refrain from acts that contravene the election laws. If the voter has to be made known who the candidates of the group are a brochure with their photographs, names and numbers giving a brief account of their suitability with qualifications and achievements in the field of social work could be sent to each household. This was done in the Kandy District by the PA group at the last general elections but most of their candidates also resorted to the banned display of posters, cut outs and use of polythene. At the forthcoming Local Government election too the candidates have started violating the election law and they are seen grinning from parapet walls, lamp posts and even garbage bins. So it is up to the voters to act against these law-breakers by not voting for them. V. J. - Kandy
I have been an active supporter of the political party I fancied for the past sixty years and from the good experience I have thus gained wish to make a few suggestions which if implemented, will certainly pave the way for fair and free elections. 1. Every voter before obtaining the ballot paper should produce his or her National Identity Card, or in its absence, any other accepted and recognised proof of identity (not a letter from an M.P. or any other big-wig). This will certainly prevent impersonation and also help to bring down the expenditure incurred by the State, as additional staff and indelible ink will not be required. 2. Organise the counting of voted polled to be done at each and every booth itself and the result be announced there itself. As there will be a few thousand votes at each booth, the same staff can take over after a short rest and perform this function too, in the presence of the officials and the representatives of the candidates. This move will prevent the tampering of ballot boxes in transit and also save the lives of supporters who opt to follow the vehicle carrying these boxes. 3. Only candidates after being subjected to a body search should be permitted to enter a polling booth. Bodyguards and candidates, agents should not be tolerated within the precincts of a polling station. Less security personnel will be needed and police and military officers will therefore have sufficient time to check all malpractices rampant during elections. The laws of the land must strictly be enforced without fear or favour, and fair and free elections will be a reality. G.D. PERERA- Dehiwala
If anyone asks any doctor, he/she will tell that smoking and eating beef can be a prime cause for one to have a heart attack. Moreover the rate at which cattle are slaughtered there would be a decimation of the number of cattle in Sri Lanka. Mushrooms, those that grow on straw, bearing the scientific name Volvariella esculenta if eaten after it is cooked properly, tastes like wild boar flesh. It inhibits the growth of cancer, too. As a pioneer in the field of growing straw mushrooms using the technique of tissue culture I gave the technique to the Industrial Development Board but nobody seems to be interested in growing that particular mushroom on a large scale. I intend starting the cultivation of straw mushrooms once again. EUGENE M. DE SILVA- Nugegod |
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