From the States

Bangalore

Lucknow

New Delhi

Initiative for equal rights for people with disabilities

On the eve of World Disability Day, 3rd December, Sir Nigel Broomfield, Chairman of Leonard Cheshire International (LCI) called for equal rights for people with disabilities. On the occasion of the Golden Jubilee of LCI, he suggested an expansion of community-based rehabilitation programmes, with special focus on developing inclusive education projects.

He said that there was a need to ensure education for all, specially those children with disabilities who were capable of leading normal lives and attending regular schools. Other objectives of LCI which are being given priority are initiation of employment, training and business enterprise services and strengthening of day care and residential services.

Source: Nigel stresses on equal rights for people with disabilities. Deccan Herald, Bangalore, 24th November 2005.

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Weeklong celebrations for the World Disabled Day

The State Department of Welfare of Disabled and Senior Citizens, joined forces with NGOs in Bangalore, for the first time, to organize a weeklong celebration marking the World Disabled Day. The events included sports meet, quiz, music and dance programme, painting competition, free health camp and cultural programmes.

The Department hoped that this would bring greater public awareness on the capabilities of people with disabilities. Shashikala U.Shetty, the Deputy Director of the Department, said that this event was meant to tell the public that the disabled were not in any way inferior to the others.

The event had kicked-off on November 24 with the disabled viewing the play, "Polisariddare Echarike", staged by the Kannada Cultural Department. The week-long event culminated into official celebrations on the World Disabled Day, in which Chief Minister Dharma Singh distributed awards to Organisations who have done commendable work in training and employment of the disabled.

Source: Week-long fete to mark world disabled Day. Deccan Herald, Bangalore, 26th November 2005.

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New Loan Schemes for the disabled

In order to provide self-employment and education opportunities to physically-challenged people, the National Handicapped Finance and Development Corporation signed a general loan agreement with the UP Finance Corporation. The loan agreement was signed by the Secretary Rohit Nandan and the Chairman and Managing Director of the NHFDC Raksha Garg at a function chaired by the Handicapped Welfare Minister, Shyam Narain Tiwari. The agreement ensured that the physically-challenged people would no longer be required to depend on other financial institutions for their loan requirements.

Garg said that under this scheme, loans from Rs 1 lakh to Rs 3 lakh would be given for small trade and up to Rs. 5 lakh for commercial use like purchase of vehicles for agriculture purposes. A new scheme to give loans up to Rs. 15 lakh for education in foreign countries is to be implemented soon.

The interest on loans up to Rs. 50,000 would be 5%, 6% on loans of more than Rs 5 lakh and 8% for education loans above Rs. 5 lakh. A person in the age group of 18 to 35 years having more than 40% handicap would be eligible for availing a loan under this scheme. A rebate of 1% in the interest rate would be given to women. Minister Shyam Narain Tiwari said that the agreement would open new vistas for the development of physically-challenged people.

Source: New loan scheme for handicapped. The Pioneer Lucknow, 24th November 2005.

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Need for cultural centres for the physically and visually challenged children

Ch Prem Singh, the Speaker of Delhi Assembly inaugurated the second All India Cultural Festival of Deaf Children, organized by the All India Deaf Arts and Cultural Society in collaboration with the Bal Bhawan.

On the occasion he demanded that the Central Government bring out a comprehensive plan to open a cultural centre for physically and visually challenged children in all the districts of the country for promoting cultural activities among them. He said that there was a need for a solid policy to promote cultural activities among these children for their all round personality development.

At the Festival about 200 hearing-impaired child artists from different states of India participated and performed classical dances, dramas, mimicry and magic shows. Veteran social activists Ms. Surender Saini, Dr S.L. Sara, Ms Vijay Kumar, Dr. Madhu Pant, Mr Sagar Sharma, Mr. Virendra Kumar and Secretary Social Welfare, Government of Delhi, Narender Kumar were present on this occasion.

Source: Cultural Centres in all districts for the disabled: Prem. National Herald, New Delhi, 28th November 2005.

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IITF: No consideration for the disabled

Despite tall claims of making the Indian International Trade Fair (IITF) visitor-friendly, disabled people visiting the fair had to face a perpetual problem of easy mobility; reason being - absence of ramps at the entrances in most of the state pavilions.

A 10 year old polio victim, Mr. Sonu Singh said that he was disappointed as he could not enter most of the pavilions due to non-availability of ramps at the entrances and could only watch the performances outside the state pavilions which was very frustrating. Another disabled person, Mr. Harendra Singh had to contend himself with waiting outside the U.P. pavilion while his family went inside.

He said that very few pavilions like the Haryana and the Pondicherry pavilion had ramps for the disabled. This lack of consideration infuriated many relatives of the disabled too; like Mr Hardener's brother who said that there were no ramps outside the U.P, Gujarat and Bihar pavilions and the authorities needed to look into the matter seriously and do the needful for the benefit of the disabled visitors.

Senior International Trade Promotion Organisation officials blamed state governments for the non-availability of ramps and shrugged responsibility off their shoulders saying that it was the concerned State Governments decision how they designed their pavilions. The official also pointed out that all the theatres inside Pragati Maidan had ramps for the convenience of disabled people.

Source: Absence of ramps disappoints physically-challenged visitors. The Statesman, New Delhi, 26th November 2005.

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Disabled Children show their talents

For 16 year old Anjum from Delhi's Sangam Vihar, physical deformity is not a deterrent as she moves ahead on the road of success. Hailing from a poor family with both legs handicapped, she has proven her potential playing the role of major characters in 10 theatre productions and now hopes for a career in Bollywood.

She says that in no way does she feel inferior to the Bollywood actors and if given a chance would prove her worth by making a career in Bollywood. Like Anjum there are about 150 physically challenged youth getting trained at the Disability theatre; a production house promoting the physically challenged talents. They have high aspirations and confidence levels to match.

These children will exhibit their skills and talents at a special event called 'POSSIBLE', in the first week of December. The seven-day extravaganza will feature three theatre productions, five films and a display of paintings. The theatres and paintings will be presented by the physically challenged and the films would have physically challenged actors.

The Producer Ajay Sharma said that this was a unique opportunity for the physically challenged to show their talents. Source: Physically challenged kids hope for career in Bollywood. Assam Tribune, Guwahati, 28th November 2005.

Source: Physically challenged kids hope for career in Bollywood. Assam Tribune, Guwahati, 28th November 2005.

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Special Olympics

It was a day filled with colour and smiles as the Special Olympics kicked off in the Capital. Special athletes, Arjuna Award winners, celebrity guests and sports personalities from across the country came together to mark the event.

Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dixit and Bollywood actor Akshay Kumar officially inaugurated the five day long affair at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium. 1,200 athletes from 14 different states and some from Pakistan was the expected participation.

Akshay Kumar, the brand ambassador for the event, said that the event was very close to his heart and he would like to see events like the Special Olympics give disabled children a chance to be seen as future heroes. The Special Olympics flame was lighted by Meera Chandra, India's first athlete to represent the nation at the Global Youth Summit 2003.

Source: Let the Games Begin. The Hindustan Times, New Delhi, 29th November 2005.

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