With a Will to Do

E Raghunatha Reddy

WHEN E Raghunatha Reddy lost both his hands in a railway accident, some “big official” told him it would have been better if he had died.

“Seven years later, I went to this man and showed him my law certificate,” he says. Reddy had gone through school and college by learning to write with his right leg. He also obtained an MA and teachers English to students of Std VI and VII in the Cuddapah district of Andhra Pradesh. But this 30–year–old's work as a teacher and as an activist for the rights of the disabled surely gives them–and everyone around him–more important life lessons.

On the eve of the International Day of Disabled Persons, Reddy was given the National Centre for Promotion of Employment of Disabled People–Shell Helen Keller Award for being a “role model”. He was among 11 individuals and corporate firms that received the awards. His face radiating dignity, Reddy received the award from Union Minister for Panchayati Raj, Youth Affairs & Sports Mani Shankar Aiyar.

Most disabled persons face resistance because others fail to accept their differences. Reddy spoke of how he was unable to take up teaching certain subjects, such as maths, which require the use of the blackboard. This he could let pass, but some people would criticize him for putting books on the floor and using his feet to turn pages and to write. It is prejudices such as this, and worse, that Reddy tries to dispel through his Chaitanya Handicapped Welfare Association. He has also united voluntary groups fighting for the rights of the disabled in his district under the District Disabled Network.

In October, he led a three–day hunger strike to seek job reservations for the disabled. “In my district, physically challenged people who are unemployed often commit suicide,” he says. He also obtained a promise form Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy to raise pension for the disabled from Rs 200 to 500.

“My goal now is to teach to disabled children,” said Reddy, who believes that education is a very important force in empowerment. “I have planned to open a school for mentally disabled children.”

One of the “model corporate” award winners, Amitabh Chaudhary, Chief Executive of Infosys BPO Ltd, endorses Reddy's belief: “It's difficult to find disabled persons who have reached a certain level of education.” The award aims to recognize both individual achievers and corporates.

Source: Award winner shows what it takes to win, Indian Express, New Delhi, 3 December 2007.

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Nilesh Singit

At the age of six, Nilesh Singit began his education at the Spastics Society of India (SSI) and thirty years later, his educational pursuits are far from over. “Once I graduated from the Spastics Society of India, I completed my BA in English, followed by an MA in English. Presently I am completing my MA in Human Rights via distance education. I hope to complete my PhD in Disability Rights as well, as it will provide me with a fresh set of ideas in terms of my work.”

Despite his academic inclinations, Nilesh boasts of professional achievements that would leave most of us, cerebral palsy notwithstanding, inspired.

“After I completed my BA, I enrolled in a number of computer courses and thereafter, joined SSI as an IT officer. Soon after, I joined ADAPT (Able Disabled All People Together),” elaborates Nilesh. As part of the organization, Nilesh was instrumental in filing a public interest litigation which served as an intervening petition in response to the petition filed by ILS College, Pune, which stated that colleges were not implementing the Disability Act as expected.

In addition to being part of the drafting committee at the UN convention on disability and a member of the Amendment Committee that is presently working on the amendment of the country's PWD Act, Nilesh has spent the last three years working on the amendment of the country's PWD Act, Nilesh has spent the last three years working at India Centre for Human rights, and more specifically, disability rights is not just work, but a passion for Nilesh, and his relentless work in the field reflects the conviction he feels towards his work.

“What we are working towards is a system of inclusive education, which includes children with special needs, whether they are physical or learning disabilities. There are over 70 million lndians with special needs, half of which are children. Given the fact that there are only 3000 special schools in the country, inclusive education is the only way out,” explains Nilesh, adding, “The common argument against inclusive education is that not all children can be included in regular schools, especially those with severe handicaps or disabilities. However, such cases form a very small percentage of the 70 million Indians in the category, and thus, this argument denies the majority from the right to be integrated.”

On the personal front, it took much probing before Nilesh cited an example of how his disability, especially considering the acute lack of disability–friendly infrastructure in India, has hindered his life in any way. “It was always difficult to go to the movies, though I was always carried, I consciously avoided the movies because I didn't want to trouble anyone,” shares Nilesh. Today, due to Nilesh's efforts, in conjuncture with ADAPT, at least one theatre in Bombay, IMAX Wadala, is fairly accessible and disabled–friendly. “They have assistants that provide help at any point in the show, and offer wheelchairs, amongst other services,” Nilesh elaborates.

A self–confessed ‘computer freak’, Nilesh also works part–time to make operating systems more disabled–friendly. Given his academic inclinations, it is no surprise that reading literature is another of his favorite pastimes.

The truth, is, after first meeting him, you can't help but be overcome by a sense of bewilderment, wondering how the word ‘handicap’ can be applied to a person as colourful and accomplished as Nilesh.

Source: Relentless pursuits, The Times of India, Ahmedabad, 3 December 2007.

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Nikita Madan

Eleven–year–old Nikita Madan is the dancing sensation of her school, Suffering from spina bifida (a spinal cord ailment), Nikita hardly has any sensation in her right leg, as a result of which she walk with a limp. But she has never allowed the physical challenges from realizing her dreams.

Soon she will be adding another feather to her cap, winning as she has the national award for empowerment of persons with disabilities, 2007. She will be honored as the “outstanding creative girl” by President Pratibha Patil on behalf of the Ministry of social justice and empowerment on the occasion of World Disability Day in Vigyan Bhawan.

“Her handicap does not stop her from doing any activity including dance. One has to see her dance to believe that a child with 50% disability can dance so well. She is so creative in her dance steps as well as in her emotions and expressions that she has won all the four times she participated in dance competitions, competing with normal children without any handicap,” said Dr S Bhanumathy, her mother.

A student of Class VI at DPS Rohini, Nikita has been an all rounder all through. From her parents to her principal, everyone is extremely proud of her. “She is an outstanding girl and her disability has never come in the way of anything she does. That is why we made her head girl of junior school which demands a lot of responsibility and leadership skills.

I am confident she will go places. We all are very proud of her” said Rita Sen, principal of DPS Rohini. Nikita's creativity has brought her many laurels in several fields like poetry writing, art & craft, dance, oration and academics. Nikita has composed more than 25 poems on various topics. Her poems have been published in national newspapers and children's magazines.

Nikita believes nothing is impossible if you set your mind to it. “More than anything else, I work towards making my parents proud. Their excitement seems to be more than mine. Like them I wish to become a doctor one day. Nothing can stop an achiever,” she said, adding “No one has ever made me feel I was different and I thank my peers for that.”

Source: This special diva is a dance champ, The Times of India, New Delhi, 3 December 2007.

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