Shymon Joseph, a 34-year-old differently abled person who turned up at the Aluva mini civil station for the learner’s licence test, had a harrowing time on Friday, throwing light on the alleged official apathy towards differently abled people at government offices.
Soon after his arrival, he was directed to the sub-Regional Transport Office (RTO), situated on the fourth floor. But much to his shock, Joseph, who is paralysed from the waist down, found that the lift was not functional. His friend promptly rang up ward councillor Seby V. Bastin, who rushed to the spot.
They along with a few good Samaritans carried Joseph on their shoulders to the office where he was given first priority to appear for the test.
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“I had last visited the mini civil station in September and even then, the lift was not functional. Like this time, I was carried by people on their shoulders, which is highly uncomfortable for people like me,” said Joseph.
In fact, the only lift in the multi-storey mini civil station has been dysfunctional for over a year now, putting hundreds of elderly and differently abled people to much hardship.
The building houses important offices such as those of the tahsildar, RTO, Agriculture Department, Revenue Department, and employment exchange.
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Mr. Bastin said he had lodged multiple complaints, including in writing, with the tahsildar. “But the tahsildar keeps on saying that the matter has been raised at the district development committee,” he said.