A different experience for the differently-abled : MADURAI

                             


A DAY TO REJOICE: Differenltly-abled persons with their life partners at the ‘Swayamvaram’ held in the city on Sunday.

      Source : THE HINDU , 30th July 2013 

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K.Nagalakshmi, a differently-abled woman in her mid-twenties, says she believed she would never get married. However, finally she was able to find her life partner, thanks to a ‘swayamvaram’ organised by the Tamil Nadu Physically Handicapped Associations Service Federation.

On Sunday, around 350 differently-abled men and women registered their names to take part in the swayamvaram in the presence of their family members.

“I witnessed the swayamvaram last year and took part in it this year. I had no expectations before being a part of the swayamvaram, but I am happy that I found my life partner here,” says V.Maharajan, a differently-abled man, who is Ms.Nagalakshmi’s fiancé now.

Mr.Maharajan owns a mobile showroom at M.Vadipatti.
 

The couple met at the counselling session organised recently at a private school as part of the swayamvaram. The swayamvaram includes a counselling session for the prospective couples by legal experts, psychologists, psychiatrists and gynaecologists, says T.M.N.Deepak, State vice-president of the Federation of Tamil Nadu Physically Handicapped Association.

P.Shanthi, a B.Ed. graduate who has no disabilities, says, “I always wanted to marry a differently-abled person. When I came to know about the swayamvaram I participated in it.”

She is now engaged to M.Xavier, an electrician with walking disabilities. “Our families met and they liked each other,” says Mr.Xavier, with a choked voice.

According to Mr.Deepak, several women, who have no disabilities, are eager to marry the differently-abled men.

“Sadly not many normal men come forward to enter wedlock with differently-abled women,” he told The Hindu.

K.Muthiah, a differently-abled man, is now engaged to A.Muthammal, a woman with no disabilities.

“Muthammal and I are relatives. Both of us were working as insurance agents and we liked each other. The swayamvaram helped us decide our future,” Mr.Muthiah says.

According to the organisers, around 25 couples from Madurai will be selected to be part of the grand wedding celebration in Chennai on October 27.

“Around 60 to 100 differently-abled couples from all over the State will be selected to be part of the wedding celebration in Chennai. Last year, 24 couples participated from Madurai and this year we expect 25 couples to be part of the grand wedding,” says S.Boopathy, general secretary (south zone) of the Tamil Nadu Physically Handicapped Associations Service Federation.

Mayor V.V.Rajan Chellappa and Collector L.Subramanian blessed the couples and offered felicitations .



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Swayamwara turns a new leaf in lives of differently-abled

 

Source : The New Indian Express , 30th July 2013

Differently-abled couples, who found perfect matches, being greeted by the organisers of the Swayamwara in Madurai on Sunday

An unusual buzz was witnessed at the Mango grove on way to Alagarkoil Hills on Sunday as hundreds of differently-abled persons from across the State assembled there to participate in the ‘Swayamwara’ organised by Tamil Nadu Physically Handicapped Associations Federation (TNPHAF) South Zone forum.


Hundreds of prospective brides and grooms, along with parents and relatives, were seen scanning the profiles of other participants to find a perfect match.


R Suresh (32), a technical staff at Anna University Centre, who has locomotive disability, came all the way from Villupuram to find a suitable girl for himself. Suresh said, “I came to know of Swayamwara last year, but could not make it then. This year I got an invitation from the organisers and attended.” Such programmes were a boon to the differently-abled in the State, he added.

S Bhoopathy, State Vice President of TNPHAF, said, “The track record of the Swayamwara programme is improving. This year around 350 registered with us as against 200 last year. Around 50 couples were able to find suitable partners and the record will be much better than last year’s.”


K Nagalakshmi (30), of Sellur in Madurai, and Maharaja (30), of Dindigul, were the first couple whose profiles matched. Both of them had orthopaedic disorders. Maharaja said, “All these years I had not even thought that I will get married. But with such bodies playing active role for the welfare of the differently-abled I too have found a match for myself.”


“It is difficult for people like us to find a job and get married. We have to strive hard to earn a status in the society,” Maharaja added.


However, Maharaja said that he was happy over finding a suitable match for himself after a struggle of three years. Maharaja, who owns a stationery shop at Batlagundu, said that he would be able to take care of his prospective bride through his business.


Meanwhile, S Bhoopathy said, “We have made the necessary arrangements for the stay of the participants and their families.  Some participants discussed various issues linked to the marriage with the families of partners they had chosen and entered into alliances.”


So far, around 50 couples have found their matches in the Swayamwara this year.  According to organisers, once a perfect match is found and the families approve of alliance, the prospective groom and the bride are invited to a podium. The organisers said that those who had found their matches would be married off at Chennai by Geeta Bhavan Trust. Collector L Subramanian and Corporation Mayor V V Rajan Chellappa were also present.