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Hemmed in by hurdles?
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Most disabled people, especially the poor, are unaware that they too are entitled to the same rights as normal citizens. A recent workshop, conducted by World Vision, highlighted the problems of this marginalised section.
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IT WAS a small group of men and women from the economically backward strata of society. They were animatedly discussing the various problems that made their daily existence a struggle. When it was 22-year-old Devi's turn to speak she declared without hesitation, " I have no problems at all.'' Stunned, the moderator asked, "What? No problems at all? Are you happy? Don't you want to get married? '' Devi insisted that she was happy and yes, she wanted to get married. Quite a normal response for a young woman. But the only hitch is that Devi is suffering from `cerebral palsy, with loco motor difficulty'. In simple terms, she has a normal mind but her physical growth and movements are not. To put it plainly, she is disabled.
And so were the 20 odd people who had gathered at the World Vison's area office in Dr. Ambedkar Nagar, Velachery. Some were mentally retarded, some could not walk, while some suffered visual impairment. While Devi is perhaps an unusually contented person to declare that she is happy, notwithstanding her disability. Life certainly is not a bed of roses for most disabled persons in the country. Their physical problem is compounded by social attitudes and the difficulties they face in getting their rights.
"The problem is worse if the disabled person happens to be a woman, '' says Dr. Anita Ghai, who teaches psychology in a Delhi University College. She and Dr. Aishwarya Rajeswari, Medical Officer in a World Vision project, addressed a group of poor, disabled persons recently. Both are disabled too. It was sheer co-incidence that brought these two emancipated women together.
" I was returning after a training programme in Delhi and Dr. Anita was on a personal visit to Chennai. We met at the ambu-lift at the Delhi airport. During the course of conversation I invited her over to address a group of disabled persons in the city," explained Dr. Aishwarya. A `disability activist', Dr. Anita co-ordinates with various NGOs, who work for the welfare of the disabled. But she doesn't belong to any of them, she quickly points out, though she did work with "Disability Rights Group'' a few years ago.
" I don't believe in the elitist approach to disability. Our problems don't stop with air and rail travel concessions. The problems of the disabled go deeper.''
Kanniyappan, is a hemiplegic with a leg and hand paralysed after a stroke he suffered a few years ago. Till then he was a normal person earning his living. But, today, even his family doesn't treat him properly. Palaniammaal, a polio victim, is sad that she has become a burden to her family. "Although my husband married me with my problem, today he is irritated at my disability.'' She says.
Both Aishwarya and Anita try to focus on the attitudinal hurdles the disabled face in society. She recalls her own experience, "At a railway station, the clerk at the reservation counter once asked me to show my ID card as proof that I was disabled. And that too when he could see me with my crutches and calipers. Earlier, we had to carry this card to claim our concessions. But not now. So, I didn't carry one. But the clerk was not even aware that the government had dropped this system. However, I had my way finally as I protested and said I would lodge a complaint against him.''
Aiswarya wants to focus attention on the problems the disabled face at the grass-roots level. Almost all those who had assembled there wanted education and work opportunities to sustain them.
Says Anita, "We don't need either sympathy or free food. All that we ask is for is a more sensitive approach to our problems. I want to sensitise society to the problems of the disabled. And I want the poor, disabled to be aware of their rights and raise their voice so that they will be heard. "Some do try to live a normal life despite their difficulties. Umaiyal, 21, for instance, sells vegetables and Devi, sells popcorn. If she had more money, Umaiyal would like to set up a proper vegetable shop. But she is not aware that she can get a bank loan. The procedures too are cumbersome. "First we have to know where to go and whom to approach. Then to reach the source is not easy. We have to travel by public transport and the buses are not disabled-friendly. We cannot afford the auto fare. Besides, the formalities are not completed at one go and entail several trips," says Kanniyappan.
To get calipers from the government hospital, a disability certificate is needed, and to get this certificate they need calipers to walk several times to the GH. It is s vicious cycle.
Most of the 20 disabled people who had gathered at Velachery were not even aware that they needed a government certificate to claim their rights. Neither were they aware that they were entitled to all the rights that normal citizens enjoyed. "When such is their plight what difference would rail or air travel concessions make to their lives," ask both Aishwarya and Anita. Organising camps for the disabled on the lines of eye and polio camps will go a long way in sensitising this marginalised section to its rights, feel the women doctors.
" I am not trying sell dreams to these people. But by talking to them and knowing their problems I want to instil confidence in them. If others think of us as disabled, it is all right. But when we start thinking of ourselves as disabled that is when the problem starts,'' says Anita. Aishwarya concurs, "That confidence can come only through a supportive family. It is a two-pronged approach. On the one hand, the disabled are to be educated of their rights. On the other, society and the government have to be sensitised. The disabled workshop by World Vision was a step in that direction."
ARUNA SRINIVASAN
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