Who needs words?

Jisha Surya
First Published : 11 May 2010

Like other employers, Kerala State Science and Technology Museum director G Arul Gerald Prakash too was at first skeptical about the efficiency of special youths from the National Institute of Speech and Hearing (NISH) while employing them as data entry operators. However, the four youths proved their efficiency within days, setting examples for other organisations and differently-abled students.
“We admitted them with the recommendation of Education Minister M A Baby. Initially, I was not that confident. But they were more efficient than others I have seen so far. They proved their efficiency within no time and then we started giving them more important tasks,’’ Prakash said.
Vijilal, Vinulal, Renjith and Shiju - the confident and vibrant youngsters - seemed enjoying their work.
Their inability to hear the ‘tuck tuck’ sound of the keyboard and share their feelings verbally do not diminish their enthusiasm. Vijilal and Vinulal, siblings from Alappuzha, travel to the office and back by train. Renjith and Shiju are from Manacaud and Enikkara respectively. All the four reach the work place at sharp 9.30 a.m. and work till 5 p.m.
Their responses to Expresso’s queries were spontaneous. They scribbled on a piece of paper or typed on their mobile screen to convey us their joy of earning and acquiring an identity. They added that their families too are happy with their jobs.
All of them have Diploma in Software Systems from NISH. They joined KSSTM in December and are getting an honorarium of Rs 2,000 per month. Admitting that this amount doesn’t match the excellence they show in their work, Arul Gerald Prakash said they were planning to increase their salary after the next executive committee meeting.
But, the job of a data entry operator is definitely not the finishing point of their run against fate. Shiju and Vinulal want to appear for PSC exams and thus win a decent Government job. Renjith and Vipinlal expressed desire to pursue computer courses.
Honorary Director of NISH G Vijayaraghavan didn’t hide his happiness at the decision of S&T Museum to employ special children from NISH. “Some of our students got job in Government firms, some are presently working in companies in Technopark. NISH is the only institute in India which offers two degree courses for hearing impaired students,” he said.
Accommodating differently-abled youths as employees is nothing new to KSSTM.
Four mentally-challenged students of C H Mohammed Koya Institute have been working there as gardeners for the past two years and the museum is planning to appoint 10 more as gardeners.
‘‘A change is visible in the behaviour of the students who work here. I have given instructions to other workers to interact with them. Whenever I meet, I greet and talk to them. It will give them a notion that others too are respecting them,” said the director.
jisha@expressbuzz.com