Disability-friendly workplace for blind officer Roopesh; action following Kerala Kaumudi report

ALAPPUZHA: Roopesh, who has overcome blindness to achieve remarkable success in the Kerala Administrative Service (KAS) exams, has been serving as the District Insurance Officer of Alappuzha. However, his daily struggle to access his third-floor office due to the building's lack of accessibility has gained public attention.

Responding to a report published by Kerala Kaumudi highlighting Roopesh's difficulties, immediate steps have been taken to ensure a disability-friendly workspace. The Additional Chief Secretary of the Public Administration Department, K.R. Jyothilal, has directed the District Collector and the Director of the State Insurance Department to provide an office on or near the ground floor. This will significantly improve Roopesh's daily work experience.

Despite this decision, concerns remain regarding the practicality of the move. The insurance office operates with manual files, which would require staff to frequently carry documents between floors for Roopesh's approval. Additionally, the lack of available space on the ground floor poses challenges for immediate implementation.

Battle for Fair Treatment
Roopesh's challenges are not limited to office accessibility. Social workers have expressed outrage at his recent transfer, which they consider unjust. Unlike other KAS officers from the first batch who remain in their original postings, Roopesh has been relocated and denied an essential assistant who had previously supported him as Deputy Collector in the Alappuzha Collectorate.

Activists have called for Roopesh's reassignment to roles within the GST or Local Self-Government Department (LSGD) or his reinstatement as Deputy Collector. They argue that the transfer and lack of assistance are discriminatory and unjust, especially given his outstanding achievements.