Five acid attack survivors and a trans woman began their clerical jobs at the Delhi High Court on 28 September, thanks to an initiative to give them employment after their plight was brought to the notice of Acting Chief Justice Gita Mittal.
A source close to Justice Mittal's office said this was a “path-breaking initiative” by the high court, which could be an example for other institutions in the country to follow.
Confirming the decision, a senior member of the high court administration said “this is the first of its kind when such a decision has been taken. All the six, who joined, have been given clerical jobs as per their qualification.”
The judicial officer, who did not wish to be named, said “we have taken this step, not only to give them a job, but to give value to these people.”
He said the decision was taken after the Delhi State Legal Services Authority (DSLSA) sent a proposal earlier this month to explore job opportunities for such people. After this Justice Gita Mittal personally interacted with the six women before proceeding to offer them jobs at the High Court on contractual basis.
Babli (29), one of the joinees, said that she was forced to leave her home due to her gender which was not acceptable even to her family members. “No one gave me a job because of my gender,” she said.
Nasreen Jahan (38), who is an acid attack survivor, has to look after two daughters as a single parent. She was allegedly attacked by her ex-husband six months into their divorce.
Another acid attack victim Sapna (25), who recently cleared her Class XII exams, was allegedly by a relative who insisted on marrying her even despite her refusal.
With a graduation degree in hand, Kamar Jahan (27) is the most qualified among the lot. Jahan got married in 2009, but her husband left her and remarried. She was says she was attacked by her husband’s second wife and her relatives.
24-year-old Shobha is the youngest among the group, and has studied till class 10. She calls herself lucky for having bagged a job in the high court.
Mamta (29), who has studied till class eight, too felt the same. She said normally acid attack survivors have to face discrimination when it comes to getting a job.
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