Institutions

Chennai

Guwahati

Uttar Pradesh

Ability Foundation

One black day after another for years, Thambi Raja, 34, has been selling snacks on Chennai's Marina Beach. Orphaned at a young age and blind, he grew up in Meenavar Kuppam, a slum by the seashore. Raja earned around Rs 35 a day. There were times when he became frustrated with life. But Sunday mornings have always been special. A heart-warming voice on All India Radio gives him the courage to think big - a better life and perhaps a food stall on the seashore.

Thiramayin Diayil (Towards Ability), a path-breaking radio programme produced by the NGO Ability Foundation, gives colour to the lives of many like Raja. The Programme, which completed its 150th episode recently, tries to sensitive people on disability-related issues and disseminates empowering information to the disabled

"It is not just about spreading awareness on the rights of the disabled. Most of them live in isolation, unaware of the wide world outside. The idea is to be a window to the world," says Jayashree Raveendran, founder director of Ability Foundation and the country's first cross-disability magazine Success& Ability. "It could be movies or the stock market. Thiramayin Disayil takes a look at everything."

The format of the programme includes talks and interviews with doctors, counselors, potential employers, human right activities, educationalists, policy-makes and celebrities. Film actor and social activist Revathy's Neegal Keeta Kalvi (Question You Have Asked) is a big hit. "Wherever I travel in Tamil Nadu, People invariable talk to me about Thiramayin Disayil, and how it has given them the strength to look beyond their disability," says Revathy. "We have to get over the mindset of labeling them as disabled, and look at them as human beings capable of achievement."

By the time the 15-minite programme ends at 8.45 a.m., Ability Foundation gets a series of calls. Some appreciate the programme while others are eager for more information like, 'what rights do we have? What is the Persons with Disabilities Act? Are there normal schools that accept disabled children? Can you get us tri-wheelers? Jobs?'

The Air staff is proud of the programme. "In this era of film and entertainment-based programmes, nobody would have expected a programme like this to elicit a wide audience. But, from day one, Thiramayin Daisayil has had a tremendous response," says Srinivasa Raghavan, the station director. "I think it is because the programme directly touches the lives of the people."

A letter from visually challenged Sumathi in Sivaganga district would prove it. Having studied only up to standard 9, she wants to know if someone would really consider her for a job if she goes for a telephone operator's training. "Where do I being? This is really going to be my first attempt to gain independence and I owe it to your radio programme," she writes. "What a change of direction it gave my life. And to think I had even contemplated suicide. Now I sincerely believe I too can."

Source: Hema Vijay, Voice of Hope. The Week, Kochi, 17 July 2005.

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Atma Nirbhar

Since its establishment in 1996, when it was established, the people engaged in Atma Nirbhar - Ek challenge, work towards economic independence. The work they all perform, is packing tea and spices under the brand name Nav Jeevan, which the organization sells at select places.

Based at Guwahati's Gopinath nagar, the "primary aim of Atma Nirbhar is to given an opportunity to the disabled person to work with dignity, earn a living and become self reliant." To achieve that, the workers are provided with abundant motivation and environment conducive to their overall welfare.

Kaushik Das, project coordinator of Atma Nirbhar, says that apart from providing work opportunities to the beneficiaries, other facilities like functional literacy, subsidized food, regular health check-ups and support education of meritorious children are also provided.

Significantly, the low-key work of the organization has never received any major government or corporate aid. The activities are being run by whatever amount is earned through the sale of the packaged commodities. Some individual donors also give much needed financial support from time to time.

"When have not been successful from the marketing point of view, although some organizations like Assam Carbon, India Carbon, Assam Roofings, Sunrise Biscuits, have been buying our products. The brand is still to carve a niche in the market, which could have really encouraged the beneficiaries."

In tune with its efforts to empower the disabled, Atma Nirbhar has offered financial aid to some students. At present such support is received by eight students, one of whom is Robin Hembron, the headboy of Montfort School.

The organization has recently received financial aid from ABI-LIS, a Finnish group, to help promote micro enterprises among the disabled persons of the State. That amount is being expanded to help some disabled persons to open small shops known as Ability Stores.

Its work has earned the organization two major awards, including the National Award for promotion of employment for the disabled on December 3, 2004.

Source: NGO's bid to rehabilitate disabled persons, Assam Tribune, Guwahati, 14 July 2005.

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Jagatguru Rambhadracharya Handicapped University

The name of this unique university - probably the first in the World - is Jagatguru Rambhadracharya Handicapped University in Chitrakoot, UP.

Greatly moved by the condition of the handicapped in the country Jagatguru Rambhadracharya embarked upon as ambition project. With the backing of the state government, he set up a host of schools/ colleges: one for the visually challenged, another for the speech impaired, a third for the physically challenged and a fourth for the mentally challenged at Chitrakoot. At these exclusive institutions, they would receive a full education right from Class I to D. Lit./ Ph.D. (as the case may be) and there would be no age bar for taking admission into any programme of choice, if they fulfilled all the other basic eligibility criteria

Jagatguru Rambhadracharya, University Chancellor, is also visually challenged, says "Establishing this university was my life's mission. My second mission is to see this experiment succeed." The university was established under a special Act passed by the UP legislature in 2001. It presently figures under Section 2(1) of the University Grants Commission (UGC) and can thus avail of central grants under Section 12 (b) of the UGC Act 1956.

The university gives admissions to all students with disabilities of to all kind. It proposes to provide free-of-cost or a nominal fee for education, boarding and lodging, as well as, industrial training for specific jobs is in fact an integral part of all the university's programme.

Students will be awarded commercial Diplomas in nearly all the conventional areas: stitching, cane work, handicrafts, etc. At the fully residential facility, students will also be taught certain life and self-dependence skills. There are plans to invite guest faculty from all to come and share their skills and experience with the students.

"Spots and co-curricular activities will be as essential part of their academic life," informed Swamiji. "We will also sponsor a number of cultural activities and programmes designed specially for disabled students," he adds. Sanskrit and computer education is also part of the university curriculum. The university will run a Braille press on the campus.

Some progrsmm4s that will be offered here are: B.Ed. and M.Ed. for the visually and hearing impaired (to be conducted separately), MSW (master of Social Work), B.F.A. (Bachelor of Fine Arts), BCA (Bachelor of Computer Application), besides an MA in Hindi, English, Sanskrit, Painting Music, Sociology, Political, Science, Philosophy, History, Culture and Archaeology and a host of other degree and diploma programmes. The admission process is on the basis of merit and a round of personnel interviews.

The university will offer B.Ed., M.Ed., MSW, BFS, BCA, MA in English, Sociology, History, Culture and Archaeology.

Admission is on the basis of merit and a round of personal interviews.

Interview with Avanish Chandra Mishra, Registrar, Jagatguru Rambhadracharya Handicapped University (JRHU), Chitrkoot

What is the special aim of this university?

We have two main objectives: one, to provide higher education to persons with disabilities so that they can stand on their own feet and second, to tap into a talent manpower, that can be trained and groomed to become an equal contributor to society. Our university provides free-of-cost education to all its undergraduate and postgraduate students. In professional training courses, we are charging a fee but it us very nominal. There is no charge for hostel accommodation.

With whose help did you design these? Are these any practical problems that you face while teaching these students?

We have tried our best to design programmes that would eventually fetch these students' jobs. So apart from regular BA and Ma programmes we are also running courses in Information Technology, Teacher Training Programme, Fine Art, Music etc. Soon we will also open a department for Law studies. In preparing all these courses we have received help from the Rehabilitation Council of India, especially with B.Ed. Special Education.


And, no we haven't faced any practical problems with these students. Our faculty, specially our IT staff is we;; training to cater to the specific, individual, occupational needs of these students.

What about placement support?

We have a placement cell for this purpose. Though This cell, we propose to create more awareness about the needs of disable people. So far, only one batch has passed out in 2004. Ten of our students got immediate placement with NTPC and BTC.

What are your future plans?

We want to convert this into a world class university. We also wish to establish Centre at the Block Level for the centre Bundelkhand region. We also propose to commence programmes on Rehabilitation Science - there are so many plan on the anvil.

Source: Tarun Subhash, Special universities for special students. The Hindustan Times, New Delhi, 3 July 2005.

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