Chennai, June 9: Kanimozhi Karunanidhi, a Member of Parliament from Thoothukudi, has written to Dr. Virendra Kumar, the Minister of Social Justice and Empowerment, requesting intervention in the abrupt dismissal of over 120 contract faculty and staff at the National Institute for Empowerment of Persons with Multiple Disabilities (NIEPMD).
In her letter, Kanimozhi highlighted that NIEPMD, an autonomous institution under the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (DEPwD), has terminated the employment of more than 120 contract staff without notice. The institute currently runs approximately 13 programs for 588 students with disabilities. Notably, only 20% of the faculty are permanent, while 80% work on a contract basis.
The letter further states that the dismissed contract employees were appointed through a proper selection process in 2024, which included a thorough investigation, examinations, skill assessments, and interviews conducted by an authorized selection committee. Appointment orders were issued with an approved contract duration extending to 2027. Since their hiring, these employees have served diligently in their roles.
Following recent administrative changes at NIEPMD, a significant number of contract staff were removed without adequate notice, proper dialogue, or an opportunity to voice their concerns. This sudden action has severely disrupted the institute’s operations and negatively impacted both the livelihoods of the employees and the services provided to individuals with disabilities.
Kanimozhi expressed that this mass dismissal raises serious concerns regarding the continuity of services, academic stability, and the welfare of beneficiaries. There are fears that ongoing training, therapy, rehabilitation services, and support systems may be adversely affected.
She has requested that the central minister immediately halt the ongoing process of employee dismissals or terminations and allow current contract staff to continue their work until the end of their approved contract period in 2027. Additionally, she urged for an independent investigation into the circumstances surrounding the mass layoffs and emphasized the need for adherence to principles of natural justice, fairness, and transparency in administrative actions. Furthermore, she called for the uninterrupted continuation of academic, rehabilitation, therapy, hostel, and clinical services at NIEPMD to protect the interests of students and beneficiaries reliant on these services.
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