The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : Hope motivates them towards a milestone

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Friday, Mar 23, 2007
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Karnataka

Karnataka - Bangalore

Hope motivates them towards a milestone

Staff Reporter

19 hearing-impaired candidates appear for SSLC examination

HANDICAP NO BAR: Candidates with disabilities who appeared for the SSLC examination in Bangalore on Thursday. — Photo: K. Gopinathan

Bangalore: They were all in their 20s and 30s, appearing for the Secondary School Leaving Certificate (SSLC) examination. But they had very good reasons to aim for such a milestone. Chandrakala B.K., 27, a mother of two, said in sign language that she was taking the examination because she wanted a government job.

She is a hearing- and speech-impaired woman. Like her, Nagaraj G., 34, Prashanth R. 36, A. Sudip, 27, and 15 others, all hearing impaired, are appearing for the examination as private candidates in hope of getting a government job.

Swayamvara Trust has, for the first time in the State, arranged for 21 hearing-impaired persons aged above 27 to appear for the SSLC examination.

C.N. Vijayaraj, founder-secretary of the trust, told The Hindu here on Thursday that hearing-impaired persons were generally not encouraged to reappear for the examination if they had failed once.

"These candidates will get employment only in the private sector where the pay is not very good. They feel that getting a government job is a step towards independence, for which passing the SSLC examination is crucial."

Training

Mr. Vijayaraj said the candidates, all members of the trust, underwent training for three months.

"Only 19 are appearing for the examination. Two candidates, Mahalakshmi K.V., 28, and Pavan Nadkarni, 33, who are married to each other, met with an accident two days ago and have been admitted to HOSMAT hospital," he said. Of the 19, eight are women.

Mr. Nagaraj said he had been trying to get a government job for the past 10 years, but could not because he had not passed the SSLC examination.

"I have been studying in my spare time. I hope to do well and pass," he said.

Asked if he was confident of taking the examination, Mr. Prashanth said, "Whatever happens will (happen). I will try my best and hope to pass."

Prema A., who accompanied her son Sudip to the examination centre, fervently hoped he would make it.

"I can take care of him when I am alive. But he should learn to be independent. If he passes, he can get a government job, and then I do not have to worry about him."

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