Acceptance gifts India’s change
In my leisure I had the habit of reading books of my interest. As I was glancing book called How to change the world”, I happen to read a ace person by name Javed Abidi, Executive director of the National Centre for the Promotion of Employment for Disabled People(NCPEDP) in Delhi. Although he is disabled, with his strong determination and willpower made incessant effort to and fought for disability rights. This took back my mind quickly to encountered case in pathetic condition of the disabled child and mother. I was on my way to Health Institute towards seeking permission for organising workshop on child rights. Bosco ChildLine was waiting for me to go along with me to the Institute. Unexpectedly, they received a call from doctor asking for a rescue of a mentally challenged child come along with her mother to the clinic for treatment.
So we left in abrupt to the clinic for rescue in Vijaynagar and planned to visit the health Institute in a while. We met doctor; he said mother and child had come for treatment to his clinic. When he saw scars on the child’s face and body he felt something fishy, as he spoke to the mother to tell about her family and her husband. At initial she said everything was going well but finally she spills the beans so he alerted us to do something for them. He steered us to the clinic where the child and mother in pale was waiting for us. I was taken aback, when I saw the child. The girl child is around 8 years old, wearing old faded attire, mentally challenged and was unable to move around, her legs was shrunken with deep scars on all over body and face. She was clinging to mother’s hand, Pale Black Eyes looking at mother without a blink for love and affection. Everyday Child was whipped by callous Step- father in black and blue. When I spoke to the mother she began to narrate how father ill-treats both of them and her life story. She hails from impoverished family. She lost her parents at very young age. She earned her livelihood by doing menial job. She got married to Mr. Ram few years back and had child who is mentally challenged. After 2 years, her husband passed away due to massive heart attack. To support the family, she continued to go for work where she acquainted with Mr. Mohan who was working in the same construction site that turned out to intense affection towards each other. One fine day he proposed her for marriage but she objected and told him about the status of the child and profound burden will roll out to him if he married her. But he gave her word that he will take care of the child at any struggles and pains. As he continued to compel her to marry him, finally she gave thumbs up to him believing his words. But very soon he broke his words and began to torture child as she do not belongs to him and moreover child is mentally challenged. Few months back, she became pregnant by him so he amplified torture towards the child by burning her hands, pouring hot water and smothering her by saying “throw away mentally challenged child in any corner of the city there will be some people to take care of her. Give a good welcome to my child and we can live happily”.
Mother wants the child to be instituted so that she can go visit her at least once a week it’s not that she want to keep her child away from her and enjoy solely with her husband and awaiting child. But to protect her and ensure that she can visit her very often and give her abundant love and affection without any restrictions from her husband.
The unfortunate child was happily muddling with mothers hand bangles as she able to spare some time with her mother in the absence of her callous step father. unaware of the hard fact that she will be soon be parted from her loving mother due to mere cruelty and selfish nature of her father. We received doctor’s certificate and took mother and child in ChildLine vehicle to CWC. On the way to CWC, she eloquently said, she loves her child and wants to be with her but he is not allowing her to lead peaceful life. At times he use to threaten and jeer at her by saying nobody is there to question him if he harm her so better follow his obligation.
This incident really touched me and belief was built ones disability makes others disabled too even though they want to help the need regardless of class and caste. But very soon my attitude changed, very recently our organisation was taking part in huge celebration organised by International Organisation in Bangalore. I was coordinating for the programme. I networked with Mr. Rahul, programme coordinator for this celebration from other organisation. I have not seen him in person, only through telephone conversation and through mail I have gained acquaintance with him for the celebration. He spoke in very good English accent, lively, enthuses and in friendly manner. So impression was built in me just by his talk he is a normal young chap fresher from college with lot of energy and capable of venturing any tough project.
Few days later, I had been to the organisation to submit the documents required for celebration. I was so amazed to see him; he may be late 20’s or early 30’s in age, physically disabled. His hands were dumpy and fingers grown unProportionately, unable to carry or do something. But I was right he was bubbling with energy and brimming with enthusiasm and leading the team very efficiently. As He was speaking to me, his energetic talk conveyed me that at any stumbles I can surmount it and fulfill accomplishment. Any disabled person given chance to equip those in terms of education, skills, employment etc and remove stigma attached to it makes them able and brim others with motivation. It is not the body but the mind need to be stronger and filled with positive attitude.
This made me to recollect childhood English lesson on Wilma Rudolf; a famous athlete from America proved “Where there is a will, there is a way”. she was caught
infantile paralysis (caused by the polio virus) as a very young child She recovered, but wore a brace on her left leg and foot which had become twisted as a result 12-year-old Wilma Rudolph finally achieved her dream of shedding her handicap and becoming like other children, she was being hailed throughout the world as "the fastest woman in history". Finally, on September 11, 1960 she is given status of legacy remembered in America like that there are many people disabled who have strong confidence in themselves only thing is that to understand their need and make them avail.
I analyzed the provisions made by America for disabled through various acts like rehabilitation Act of 1973 and American with disability act to improve the standard of life.
Under American with disability act (ADA) prohibits discrimination on the basis of employment. In case if they have been discriminated they can complain in equal employment opportunity commission (EEOC).State and local Government and private should maintain architectural standard for new and altered buildings for accessibility. Altered wing of a building may have elevators, wheelchair ramps, and accessible rest rooms, whereas stairs in front of the building's entrance render the building inaccessible to wheelchair users. Public transport should be remanufactured for accessibility. Provide par transit where they operate fixed route bus or rail system (paratransit is a service to the disabled who are not able to use regular transit system independently are picked up and dropped off at their destination).In case any question or complaint they can direct to public transport system. Telephone companies should establish interstate and intra state telecommunication relay services 24/7.Air carriers should provide boarding assistance and accessibility features in new built air craft.
They also have fair housing act and general source of disability Rights Information for protection of rights of disabled. Like this each and every matter is taken into consideration and made relevant changes in favor of disabled.
But in India, Physical barriers are mild compared to social barriers.
Problems of Disabled in India are:
· Lack of basic Assistive devices such as wheelchairs and communication aids.
· Stigma attached and prejudice in the society in delicate form.
· Requirement of ramps for baggage and freight trolleys
· Lack of effective rehabilitation in India
· Problem of access
· Difficulty in landing a job.
In India with regard to public transport system is very awful...two seats are reserved in each bus for disabled but many times these seats are occupied by men and when the disabled people enter the bus they show heights of ignorance and expect ladies to give their occupied seats. Even when public transport halts in stand, people rush to the vehicle without considering the presence of disabled. There is no broad gangway to walk freely. Evidence of highly magnified negligence from part of the government and public is seen for protecting the rights of the children. There is no ramp in air carriers.
Even in Government homes for the physically and mentally disabled status is highly need to be looked into it. There are no volunteers to work efficiently for 24/7 days.
We are also lacking efficient and sensitised teachers to teach in appropriate methodology to teach disabled children in schools. Their needs remain unattended and untouched.their dreams still remains as dream not allowing to explore by not making them to believe they are not eligible. There Even in their daily required accessories like shoes, attire and other equipment there are no designers whereas there are lots of fashion designers for common man. Why people are not considering the
Improvements made are
Employment-After long struggle, The History of employment and disability in India had two landmarks. In 1959, India Government initiated its first job placement program for displaced people. In 1977 Government of Indira Gandhi reserved 3 percent of low- level government jobs for the disabled. Later when disability act came into being, stated that the appropriate Governments and local authorities provide incentives to employers both in public and private sectors to ensure that at least 5% of their work force is composed of person with disabilities.
Observance of world Disability Day- On 3rd December is considered national level celebration and remembers all disabled with great respect.
Do you think this is enough for disabled evidently there is wide gap between American government and Indian government provisions made. How long should we wait for India’s change...... Acceptance of their problem gifts India’s change. We shall work years together with blood, sweat and tears for them and bring in new hope.
