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Monday, 13 May 2013

What is a handicap in the face of mother's love ? Allahbad

Rather than in these physically challenged girls being their daughters, the women take pride in being their mothers. Bringing them with this spirit, they have helped them carve a niche for themselves. On the occasion of World Mother's Day TOI spoke to three mothers, who although different in many ways share the bond of having brought up physically challenged girls and making them not only self-reliant but also earning laurels and awards within and outside the country. 

Vimla Devi is haunted by the memory of the fateful day her four years old daughter Sarita Dwivedi was electrocuted on coming in contact with a 11,000 watt wire and the doctor had declared that her two hands and right leg will have to be amputated. She carried on with her life, raising other three kids too, but kept inspiring little Sarita to do her routine work and pursue her studies while learning tp write with the toes of her left foot. 

Today, the girl is self-reliant not only for all practical purposes, but is also good at painting, stitching, embroidery and other handicraft. She has twice been awarded the President's Medal 'Bal Shree' by Abdul Kalam Azad and Pratibha Patil, besides heaps of awards coming her way. She is pursuing Bachelor of Fine Arts from Allahabad University and has been honoured with National award for empowerment of persons with disabilities, Godfrey Phillips national bravery award, 1st international award from the embassy of Arab republic of Egypt of Egyptian Ministry of culture, speaks volume of her achievements.

"After the accident on August 10 1995, I decided she would not be second to any other girl her age", said Vimla, adding, "I have little idea of Mother's Day but today we are both ideal mother-daughter for everyone," she added. Life was not easy for Dr Kshama Mehrotra, mother of Neha, the girl who won Bal Shree award in the science category from North-Central Zone in the year 2007. "Till she was 6 months old, Neha was active like any other baby but slowly her body movements failed. But her determination made her go on and she keeps winning one award or the other making us, her parents and her elder sister, feel proud," said Kshama. "We were reluctant to send her to school but Neha was determined to get admitted to a school and kept scoring high percentage in academics and won her first gold medal when she was in KG. Although bringing her up was challenging but it did not deter any of us from making life easy for her. Neha, now pursuing BA from SS Khanna Girls Degree College, aims to become an IAS.

Similarly, grooming Shikha Tripathi was not easy for Vandana Tripathi, a housewife who was always stood with her brave daughter, whose melodious voice has won her many laurels. Although she is paraplegic, she is a bright student and has appeared for her class XII exams.

Source : T.O.I , 12th May 2013 

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