Disabled doctor starts online petition over transfer, Fadnavis responds

Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis apologised to a wheelchair bound government doctor Alaknanda Vaidya on Twitter for the inconvenience caused to her after she was allegedly posted to Baramati by the government despite being physically challenged.

Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis apologised to a wheelchair-bound government doctor Alaknanda Vaidya on Twitter for the inconvenience caused to her after she was allegedly posted to Baramati by the government despite being physically challenged.

Alaknanda Vaidya said she was posted to Baramati despite being 90% physically disabled. (Picture courtesy: Change.org)

Fadnavis said the “needful” will be done after an online petition against Vaidya’s posting was signed by more than 85,000 people.

Fadnavis said he has received the request from Vaidya, who lives in Pune, through her online petition and assured her that director, health services will be in touch with her. “Needful for your transfer will be done by tomorrow. Pls inform which officer did not consider your request. Apologies for inconvenience (sic),” the chief minister tweeted.

In her petition, Vaidya, a mother of a 11-year-old girl, said she was made to travel 100 kilometres despite being 90% disabled. Vaidya said she is completely dependent on an assistant for help in her day to day chores, from going to bed or getting the wheelchair.

“According to government rules, a physically challenged person is not supposed to be posted further than 10kms from their home. Sign my petition and ask the Maharashtra Chief Minister to step in and help me get posted in my hometown, Pune,” Vaidya said in her petition.

The petition says Vaidya was left paralysed waist below in an accident six years ago. She then applied for job at government health department and was selected for the job. But she has now been posted at Baramati, some 100 kilometres from Pune.