With a Will to Do

Ranchi: Aishwarya Shukla

Schoolgirl Aishwarya Shukla has a gift for touching people, particularly, government officials whom she has now been meeting for over two months, sensitising them about the city's disabled.

She stumped Jharkhand's Disability Commissioner Satish Chandra, walking into his chamber coolly and asking him why his office complex was not disabled–friendly. It didn't have ramps or escalators, she pointed out. “What struck me about the girl was her straightforwardness. She compelled me to think afresh.”

The only child of her parents, Aishwarya, a Class X student of Bridgeford School, started her campaign in early September, after learning that most government office complexes in Jharkhand's capital do not have ramps or escalators.

Every day, Aishwarya makes the rounds of government offices, meeting departmental heads and drawing their attention to issues concerning the disabled. And it's evident she's done her homework. Her persuasive arguments and knowledge of the law often leave government officials taken aback.

The plucky 15–year–old first dashed off letters to authorities that she thought could make a difference. She wrote to Social Welfare Minister Joba Majhi and her Principal Secretary U.K. Sangma, explaining how difficult it was for disabled persons to make their way up steep flights of stairs.

Majhi and Sangma wrote back and assured her of taking up the issue with the government.

“I found none of the government offices or public places in Ranchi, such as bus stands and the railway station, were equipped with ramps or escalators,” said Aishwarya. Between school and her awareness campaign, Aishwarya manages to pack in some other activities as well.

She was recently picked for the final round of the Horlicks WIZTEAM India contest, scheduled to be held in Bangalore from November 17 to 21. She will be representing Jharkhand in the national round along with another student.

Source: Madan Kumar. Girl's crusade for rights of the disabled. The Hindustan Times, Ranchi, 16 November 2007.