Marrying the disabled: Govt hikes award grant : Panaji

In a bid to encourage able-bodied people to wed people with disabilities, the department of social welfare has raised the award money granted to such couples to 50,000. The grant will be given to the disabled spouse, and if both husband and wife are handicapped, the couple jointly collects the award.

According to the 2001 census, there are 15,749 disabled persons living in Goa, out of which 8,889 are men and 6,860, women. Out of the 15,749 disabled persons, 4,393 persons are visually impaired, 1,000 persons are hearing impaired, 4,910 are mobility impaired, 3,578 are mentally impaired and 1,868 are speech impaired.

The scheme of incentivizing marriage with a disabled person was first floated in 1994, when the government granted a 15,000 award.

The amount was subsequently raised to 25,000 in 2006, and as of July 4, the amount has been increased to 50,000, like in Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh.

Only couples whose total income does not exceed 50,000 per annum will be eligible for the grant. The individual will have to be certified as having a minimum of 50 per cent disability.

While one may think the scheme could encourage people to marry disabled persons for the money alone, several conditions have been included to prevent misuse-the couple will have to be living together for at least two years before applying for the grant.

Also, if an individual dissolves his first marriage with a disabled person, and then marries another, he will not be eligible for the award.



Source : TOI , 5th July 2013

On disability, missing the bigger picture

A worry: Access to development, in terms of infrastructure, information and community-based services, does not find mention.


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There is reason to be optimistic about the U.N. report on disability rights, but there is also disappointment at its failure to make the poverty connection

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The disability movement has waited anxiously for the report of the high level panel on post-2015, formed by the Secretary General of the United Nations, which was released in May. This document is expected to set the tone for the Secretary General’s report on the same issue which will be released in August. This will form the basis for various countries to form their own thoughts vis-à-vis the post-2015 development agenda.

The panel’s recommendations, therefore, have a bearing on the ultimate framing of the development agenda that will replace the Millennium Development Goals (MDG) in 2015.

Poverty and the South

According to the World Health Organization (WHO) and the World Bank, one billion people or one out of seven people in the world, live with a disability. That is 15 per cent of the world’s population. Of them, as many as 800 million or 80 per cent live in the countries of the global South, grappling with extreme poverty and other inequalities and injustices. They also constitute 20 per cent of the world’s poorest.

The eight MDGs were formulated at the turn of the century to give the world a unified agenda for development.

However, they missed out one of the most marginalised sections of the population: people with disabilities. The panel report, mentioned earlier, acknowledges this fact and the failure of the MDGs in reaching out to the most marginalised.

Learning from the past, the disability movement worldwide has been rallying for their inclusion in the post-2015 development agenda. Therefore, leaders and advocates working on the issue are happy that the report acknowledges disability.

Optimism

The report does a fairly good job in underlining the premise of human rights, the universal agenda of development at the very beginning. It says, “The next development agenda must ensure that in the future neither income nor gender, nor ethnicity, nor disability, nor geography, will determine whether people live or die, whether a mother can give birth safely, or whether her child has a fair chance in life.”

It envisages five big transformative shifts i.e., leaving no one behind; putting sustainable development at its core; transforming economies for jobs and inclusive growth; building peace and effective, open and accountable institutions for all; and forging new global partnerships.

From the disability movement’s point of view, there are several positives about the report. They include the fact that:

1. universality of development is a human right; the basic premise of inclusion and social justice is highlighted as the guiding framework of the document.

2. disability is mentioned as one of the marginalised groups that should not be “left behind.”

3. disability is underlined as a cross-cutting concern; the report states “targets should only be considered ‘achieved’ if they are met for all relevant social groups.”

4. disability disaggregated data should be a part of the “data revolution.” The dearth of credible and disability disaggregated data has been the bane of the disability rights movement.

From there being no mention of disability in the MDGs, this is a huge step towards inclusion in the post-2015 agenda. But this sense of elation is also marked by cautious optimism as the report in its entirety falls short of living up to its promise of a universal agenda of development and of non-discrimination.

Of concern

It also fails to truly reflect on disability as a cross-cutting concern.

The major concerns in this area are:

1. The goals and the indicators do not mention disability.

2. Eradicating extreme poverty needs to take into account the added cost of disability and the fact that families that have members with disabilities also lose income on account of someone having to act as a constant caregiver.

3. Ageing and the rights of the elderly do not find any mention. The elderly are a section of the population most vulnerable to abuse and deprivation. There is also a connection between ageing and disability. Moreover, the world’s population is ageing.

4. Surprisingly, mental health does not feature in the report even though WHO says that more than 450 million people encounter this issue.

5. The issue of sexual and reproductive rights of women and girls with disabilities, especially the question of forced sterilization, needs to be clearly articulated.

6. Access to development (both in terms of infrastructure, information and community-based services) does not find any mention. This is a key concern for persons with disabilities.

Development without social justice is meaningless. For people with disabilities with high support needs, people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, and those with psychosocial disabilities who do not even have the “legal capacity,” it means nothing. They are not even recognised as persons. Without acknowledging these inequalities, the post-2015 agenda cannot meet the primary objective of “leaving no one behind.”

(Dorodi Sharma is with the National Centre for Promotion of Employment for Disabled People.)

Doubts on attaining MDGs as disabled children suffer

With a population of about 13 million, Zimbabwe is battling to contain over 600 000 marginalised children living with disabilities out of about 6,4 million children, according to June 2013 figures released by United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF), Zimbabwe office.

Winstone Antonio

Two years away from the deadline of the set international development standards, rights groups say the marginalisation of children with disabilities will impede Zimbabwe’s attainment of the 2015 United Nations Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).

The MDGs are eight international development goals that 192 United Nations member states agreed to achieve by the year 2015.

A 2004 report by Save the Children Fund of Norway indicated that 87% of children needing special care in Zimbabwe are being sexually abused while more than half of them were found to be HIV-positive, with 47% of them mentally challenged.

According to UNICEF, Zimbabwe’s official launch of the State Of The World’s 2013 Children report, children with disabilities are most at risk of neglect, exploitation and sexual abuse.

Farai Mukuta, executive director for the National Association of Societies for the Care of the Handicapped (NASCOH) said Zimbabwe cannot attain the MDGs without attending to thousands of marginalised children living with disabilities.

“We are far from fulfilling the MDGs as long as thousands of children living with disabilities are still marginalised and downtrodden in a country with over 6 million children,” Mukuta said.

Mukuta also said children living with disabilities lacked access to the fundamental freedoms and rights accessed by able-bodied children.

“Children with disabilities run a greater risk of abandonment, abuse, neglect and violence than their able-bodied counterparts and they lack access to the fundamental freedoms and rights that other children and people in society take for granted,” he said.

Zimbabwe made significant strides in achieving the MDGs in the 1980s, but the economic and humanitarian crisis of the last decade has stalled or in some cases reversed many of the gains.

Consequently, many, like 56-year-old Never Gumbi, MDGs with his disabled 16-year-old son out of school, mean nothing to him.

“I’m hearing about that (MDGs) from you. With my son disabled and out of school, that is helpless,” said Gumbi.

Lauren Rumble, UNICEF Zimbabwe’s chief of child protection said disabled children are the most vulnerable and marginalised.

“Children with disabilities often experience multiple deprivations, limiting their opportunities and marginalising them further. This is true also for Zimbabwe; children with disabilities are too often hidden behind closed doors, left off birth registers or shut away in institutions and forgotten,” said Rumble during the UNICEF official launch of the State Of The World’s Children Report 2013 recently.

According to UNICEF, globally, 10% of children are less likely to attend Primary school while in Zimbabwe 29% of the disabled children never attend school.

Zimbabwe’s estimated record of 93 percent literacy rate among its school-going children is ranked the best on the African continent, but the country’s approximately 300 000 disabled children are not in school.

Dorcas Chimbwa of Epworth told NewsDay that her husband refused to educate their children, a 15-year-old boy who can neither walk nor talk and his deaf-dumb 11-year-old brother.

NASCOH’s last month (June 2013) report highlight that above 52% of children with disabilities have no access to primary education.


Zimbabwe ratified the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in May 2013, which mirrors commitments in the new Constitution to people with disabilities.

But Henry Gadzikwa, a Harare-based independent sociologist said parents and guardians of children with disabilities have a pivotal role to play to help government reach the UN MDGs.

“Government cannot achieve the MDGs single-handedly, but there is need for parents and guardians of children with disabilities to ensure they educate their disabled children as education can be a key to relieve disabled children of their plight,” Gadzikwa said.

The World Health Organisation estimates that only 33%of children with disabilities in Zimbabwe have access to education, compared to over 90% able-bodied children.



Source : News Day , 6th July 2013

Disabled woman to get rail concession at last : Chennai

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Health Department issues a set of guidelines to be followed for issuing rail concession

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When all things failed, the Health Department stepped in to the rescue of Tamil Selvi, a Dalit disabled woman, who has been fighting for rail concession for the last one and a half years.

In a set of guidelines issued on Wednesday, Health Secretary J.Radhakrishnan said: “Rail Concession Certificate should be given in prescribed forms issued for the purpose, to be filled by doctors. The certificate should contain the doctor’s seal and register number and the seal of the government hospital.”

Additionally, the letter mentioned the instance of Tamil Selvi, polio-affected and with a consequent orthopaedic disability, being denied such a certificate on the grounds that she is capable of walking without support. The Hindu had reported of the travails of Tamil Selvi earlier.

“Any orthopaedically-handicapped person like her will not be able to travel without the assistance of an escort, considering that at railway stations, one has to walk and also climb from the platform…”

Subjective interpretation in such cases to deny the applicant of concession goes against the spirit of the Persons With Disabilities Act.

The letter has been addressed to the heads of all government medical units in the State

The Tamil Nadu Association for the Rights of All Types of Differently Abled and Caregivers has welcomed these guidelines.

Source : The Hindu , 6th July 2013

MBBS seats prove elusive for disabled

Names and numbers have been buried without a trace along with the hopes and dreams of many. Figures may not be available, but stories of MBBS aspirants attest that there have been deliberate attempts to exclude the disabled from foraying into the medical arena. This year, of the 138 differently-abled candidates who applied for MBBS, only 81 were called for counselling. Of them, 45 were allotted seats, while nine seats went vacant "for want of eligible candidates".

V Dhanasekaran, 27, who has a spinal cord disability, has no idea why he didn't make the grade. He wasn't called for counselling despite having a cut-off of 190. "Officials tell me my application was rejected. No one knows why," said Dhanasekharan, who works as a Siddha doctor in Villupuram.



This is the second time his application has been turned down. "Last year, when I went for counselling, they did a preliminary check and said I wasn't eligible to apply under the disabled category," said Dhanasekharan, who plans to file a petition in the Madras high court. Last year, P Divya, who has a condition similar to Dhanasekharan's, questioned the legality of her rejection in the Madras high court. She won the case and is currently pursuing medicine in a college in Dharmapuri.



Medical Council of India (MCI) regulations say that only people with 40% to 70% locomotor disability in the lower limbs are entitled to 3% reservation for MBBS admission under the Persons with Disabilities Act (Equal Opportunities, Protection of Rights and Full Participation Act), 1995. The applicants submit photos and disability certificates provided by district medical boards, but it is the selection committee, set up by the Directorate of Medical Education (DME), that decides the eligibility of candidates.



"It is this final examination that raises a lot of questions. When the district medical board shows a candidate as being 60% disabled, the selection committee for unexplained reasons shows them as 30% disabled," said S Namburajan, secretary of TN Association of Rights of Differently-abled. Namburajan's association helped three candidates file petitions in the high court this year seeking the reasons for rejection. Activists have also questioned the logic behind allotting unfilled seats reserved for the differently-abled to the open category. "The entire procedure smacks of a scam. Of the 54 seats reserved for the differently-abled, nine have been allotted for the general category. The authorities need to make public the names of candidates who have been given these seats and their cut-offs," said T M N Deepak, vice-president Tamil Nadu Differently-abled Federation. The MCI norm limiting disabilities to the lower limbs is against the spirit of UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities to which India is a signatory. "It is unfair to deny a person with disabilities the right to education. A candidate without a hand doesn't have to be a surgeon. He or she can be a general physician or take up research," said Deepak.



DME officials have denied the allegations raised by activists. "Experts in physical medicine, neurology and orthopaedics examine each candidate. Most candidates are from districts that may not have qualified neurologists or orthopedicians. As per MCI norms, we have a separate medical test, which is why the percentage of disability changes," said R G Sukumar, selection committee secretary. "We would be happy to fill all the seats under disability quota, but there aren't enough eligible candidates."


The state health department said it would look into the matter. "MCI has strict guidelines. If candidates feel that there is a lack of clarity in the guidelines, we will take it up with MCI," said state health secretary J Radhakrishnan, adding that changes need to be made at the national level. "It would be easier if a single identification card valid throughout the country was issued to disabled people instead of different certificates," he said.


In the meantime, aspirants are kept on the tenterhooks. "Last year I was called for counselling but told I was not eligible because the committee said I was 35% disabled thought the Namakkal district medical board certified me 60% disabled," said P Raja, 27, who is disabled by polio. "This year, I didn't get a call. I will apply again and keep fighting till I fulfill my father's dream of seeing me in a white coat."


'Insufficient disability' denied her the seat


She had the marks but her disability was not 'sufficient' for her to be included under the special quota. Divya P still remembers the day the judge ruled in her favour, ending her three-month ordeal.


"All I could think of at that moment was I had missed nearly two months of classes and had a lot of catching up to do," said the 21-year-old, who is pursuing her MBBS at Dharmapuri medical college.


Divya had kyphoscoliosis, a deformity of the spine, which left her with one short leg. However, when she applied for MBBS under the special category in 2011, the selection committee denied admission on the ground that she did not suffer from locomoter disabilty in her lower limbs.


Not one to give up, Divya decided to challenge the system at the Madras high court. "In the court, we pointed out that under the Persons with Disabilities Act, locomoter disability includes not only lower limbs, but disability of the spine as well," said her lawyer R Prabhakaran, who has been fighting for the cause of the specially-abled. The court ruled in her favour and directed the directorate of medical education to provide her admission. "I didn't get what I wanted easily. But I'll strive not to let down all those who stood by me through the fight," said Divya, who wants to pursue research in fertility.


'Is surgery the only option, can't I go for research in medicine?'


Every time M Vanathi tells someone she wants to become a doctor, their eyes turn to her bands that end in a stump, without fingers. So strong was her determination to wear the white coat, that when officials shut the door citing her disability, she approached the judiciary for help.


"They refused to even consider my application," said Vanathi, who approached the Madurai bench of the Madras high court last year. "I may not have a normal hand, but surgery is not the only option in medicine. I can be a general physician or opt for research. It is unfair, they did not even considered me for counselling," said Vanathi, who a third-year engineering student at Thyagaraja engineering college in Madurai.


Vanathi was born with no fingers on her left hand. "But right from the time I was a kid, I never felt I was incomplete or disabled. I made it a point to take care of myself and not rely on anyone for help. I've come this far on my own and I'm confident I can go ahead and help others as well by being a doctor," she said.


Asked if she would give up engineering if she got admission for MBBS, the reply comes without a moment's hesitation. "I will. Being a doctor has always been my dream. If I don't take it up, my fight will be in vain," she said.




Source : TOI , 6th July 2013

Vijay Kapoor — champion of the physically challenged

My acquaintance and knowledge of the famous Kapoor clan of Indian cinema can mainly be attributed to my friendship with Vijay Kapoor. And although he is not there anymore, his friendship has been instrumental in my attachment to India’s Hindi cinema ever since.


Vijay was the son of Trilok Kapoor, brother of Prithviraj, the patriarch of the family, who left Peshawar to settle in Mumbai during the British Raj. Trilok had another son Vicky also a classmate, who dabbled in the film industry but gave it up almost immediately.

Vijay left college after graduation to continue his master’s degree plus LLB at the same time. This was very common at the time although I thought the two degrees should be pursued separately in order to benefit the most from the courses. Vijay did both at the same time and told me by mail about his success.

But Vijay did not take up the legal profession and instead chose to go to the film industry. His father Trilok was a famous actor of mythological films and his cousins Raj, Shammi and Shashi were well known actors of course. The name Kapoor is a legend in Hindi films with so many of the boys and girls now occupying exalted places in the industry. Kareena, daughter of Randhir, is presently the most famous of them all. Ranbir son of Rishi — of Bobby fame — is also famous.


Bobby is the film that saved Raj from near bankruptcy after the debacle of his Mera Naam Joker in which he sustained unbearable losses because the public simply did not like it or did not like the concept of Raj making a fool of himself whereas he had been held in such high esteem and admiration that the public could not accept such denigration of their hero even by himself.

Bobby was a smashing success although it was directed by Raj himself and acted by his youngest son Rishi who went on from there to become one of the finest actors of Hindi cinema.

Shekhar Kapoor, a renowned director, once said that Raj was better at directing than acting although he was a marvelous actor as well as we can see in Awara, Shree 420 and other blockbusters.

Vijay preferred to go into directing rather than acting and started making some good films with a social content which made the government exempt them from the usual taxation. In l987, he produced and directed under his own banner Aakanksha starring Saeed Jaffery, Supriya Pathak and others including his father Trilok.

The film premiered on Doordarshan was an attempt to reflect the life of a physically challenged youth and his journey to reconcile with his destiny. It was connected with Vijay himself who was suffering from muscular dystrophy by the time and he was determined to make a film about the trauma of the victims. He struggled for 10 years to convince the government to help in funding the film whose theme was not commercially viable as it was devoid of the songs and dances of the age that the audiences in India would identify with and keep watching it.

He finally succeeded but by then his muscular disease had progressed and he began to walk with difficulty and unable to convince producers to finance his film ideas. That was the time we consolidated our friendship and our frequent meetings at the Oberoi in Mumbai and at times in Delhi, Nainital, Colombo and even the Maldives where I used to go on assignments or to accompany him for a holiday.

Another film which I liked was Call Girl about another challenging theme as it tackled the tragedy of call girls in India which had a great story. When he raised the huge banner on one of Mumbai’s streets, the commissioner of police at the time objected to what he thought was a scandalous display and ordered it brought down which was done although the film went on to click with the masses who empathized with it.


Vijay was born in Mumbai in l939. He grew up and played in the city’s R.P. Masani Road (popularly known in those days as Hollywood street because of the large film fraternity staying there) in Matunga with his brother Vicky and cousins Raj, Shammi and Shashi then he went on to St. Xavier’s College where we met until graduation. Since he wanted a filmy line he started his career by assisting S.N. Tripathi, the director in his father’s home production Shiv Parvati, and made another film with his uncle Prithviraj and his cousin Shashi and Saira Banu. He hit off with his bold film Call Girl which was acclaimed as one of those films that dealt with an important topic that few had dared deal with. It was a hard hit social commentary aimed at the youth. He was heading for success with his film Radhaa Aur Seeta when unfortunately he suffered a heart attack at an early age that dealt a strong blow to his ambition and career. But he strove forward with the film drama Parakh starring Vijayndra and Sarika.

When in l980, India was experiencing a revolution in television viewership, Vijay was one of the first filmmakers to venture into video and telefilm productions but by then his muscular dystrophy was gradually dissipating his health and energy at a time when his talents as a director were being recognized, especially when the national television agreed to subsidize his film about the physically handicapped even if it was not going to be a commercial success as it lacked the Hindi film tamasha or the usual fare of dance song and slapstick comedy which made very few people above the age of ten laugh anyway.

Vijay’s health continued deteriorating with both heart and muscles crippling his energy but he did succeed in launching his two sons Ajay and Sanjay into the field with both doing exceedingly well.

Ajay is an acknowledged authority on filming of cricket matches both national and international while Sanjay is the owner and director of a huge film production company operating in the Gulf and growing from strength to strength. His only daughter Anuradha is settled in India but her daughter is in Australia. His widow Veena is living in Chandigarh.


Apart from his talents and championship of the handicapped, Vijay was a very nice man indeed, gentle and extremely polite and was very good company so good in fact that you would not know that he was silently suffering from a debilitating disease that was wasting away his life.

— By :  Farouk Luqman who  is an eminent journalist based in Jeddah. ( luqman@srpc.com )



Source : Arab News , 5th July 2013

Remove barriers to integrate disabled children: Unicef----- Mumbai

Integrating disabled children into the mainstream is the focus of the 2013 Unicef's State of the World's Children Report released recently. The findings are pertinent for India which has signed and ratified the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.


The report states that true inclusion can be achieved if societies were to dismantle barriers to inclusion in children's environments, particularly schools, health facilities and public transport. A cursory look reveals that barriers for India's youngsters with disability start at accessing educational institutions, many of which don't have basic infrastructure in terms of ramps and accessible toilets. Such neglect could often have a cascading detrimental effect on a child's development. For instance, a child not attending school is likely to miss out on mid-day meal schemes that cater to his/her nutritional needs.


The report takes a participatory approach towards integrating youngsters, suggesting that countries should "move beyond minimum standards by involving children and adolescents with disabilities and their families in evaluating supports and services designed to meet their needs."


One of the most pressing issues where the population of disabled youngsters is concerned is the lack of relevant data on parameters as basic as prevalence of disabilities, the special needs of particular groups or status of disabled-friendly facilities available.


"The ultimate proof of all global and national efforts will be local, the test being whether every childwith a disability enjoys her or his rights - including access to services, support and opportunities - on a par with other children, even in the most remote settings and the most deprived circumstances," concludes the report, most rightly.

Source : TOI , 6th July 2013

Kolkata NGO discusses rights of handicapped

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A panel discussion on 'Importance of differently abled persons in Politics' was organized by National Institute of Professionals (NIP) NGO here on Friday.

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The panel discussion was joined by eminent personalities like, Tathagata Roy from Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Aniruddha Roy Chowdhury from Trinamool Congress (TMC), along with NIP member Sumit Agarwal and others.


“Disables are always treated as outcast in the society; they are not allowed to mix with others. They are treated in special schools, special doctors and given special treatments. But the persons who are going through all these always have the idea that they are separated from the whole society,” said Agarwal.


“I on behalf of all the disabled people want to say that all the members should be given equal importance; they should flourish in their life. We are also a part of this society. I want that disabled people should be given seats in politics. If they come, then they can accelerate the health care system more,” he added.


"Nearly 5 percent population of India is suffering from some form of physical disabilities. Dipankar Roy devoted himself to leftist politics and travelled all over India, mostly alone. He was known for his education and oratory. Sadhan Chandra became the MP in 1967. Both of them lost their sight either in childhood or by birth."


"The only solution may come from the initiative of physically challenged people themselves. Wherever they are, at schools, colleges, offices or in the community, they have to participate in the movements for the interests of their fellow brothers," he said.


Agarwal added, "In this process the common people will understand that the disabled people are not aliens. They are also capable of sharing their feelings and voicing their protests."


Source : IndiaBlooms , 6th July 2013

Aid provided to differently able persons : Imphal

Aids and appliances such as wheelchairs and tricycles were handed over to 454 CWSNs (child with special needs) at a solemn function organised by Sarva Shiksa Abhiyan (SSA), Imphal West today at Lamyanba Shanglen, Palace Compound.

Delivering the key-note address, ZEO/DPO (SSA) imphal West Zone-I Gopimohon Maibam informed the beneficiaries were selected after an 'identification camp' conducted by the Rehabilitation Council of India and State Medical Board.

Stating that the final selection procedure was carried out under the guidance of State Project Office, SSA, he said the items distributed today also included Braille, besides wheelchairs and tricycles.

As chief guest Imphal West district Deputy Commissioner Kh Radhakumar, who also Chairman (DBE), opined that every section of the society should contribute their mite in helping the differently able children live conveniently.

According to Assistant State Coordinator SSA/SMA B Joyrani SSA has introduced a methodology under which children with disabilities could pursue education based on home studies.

Source : The Sanghai Express , 5th July 2013

Paintings dedicated to children of a lesser God : Thiruvanthapuram

Gouri Parvathi Bayi and Gouri Lakshmi Bayi of the royal family of erstwhile Travancore at an exhibition of paintings by Nandan Pillai (left) at Levee Hall in Thiruvananthapuram

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Nandan Pillai tells a simple tale through 12 paintings

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A strange yet simple tale, knitted together with the purpose of conveying a message dedicated to differently abled children, is told through 12 paintings by artist Nandan Pillai.

They are arranged in a specific order and the artist has intentionally stayed away from the abstract style.

The exhibition of paintings, being held at the Levee Hall, was inaugurated by the head of the ruling family of erstwhile Travancore Utradom Tirunal Marthanda Varma on Friday.

The exhibition will continue till July 7. The artist will donate 40 per cent of all proceeds of sold paintings for training counsellors and teachers for the differently-abled.

Mr. Pillai’s graphic story has two familiar characters — that of Goddess Parvathi and the child Lord Ganesha. The legend of how Ganesha got his elephant head goes thus: Parvathi told Ganesha not to let anyone in before she went in for a bath.

Diligently following her orders, the child god staunchly refused entry to Lord Siva, who had come to visit Parvathi. Blinded by rage, Siva cut off Ganesha’s head, only to invite Parvathi’s wrath.

Realising his grave mistake, Siva immediately ordered his servants to bring the head of the first sleeping animal they find. It was an elephant they found first and its head was used to replace the child’s head.

In his work, the artist has considered another angle to the story — whatever happened to the body of the unfortunate elephant and the separated head of the child. He tugged at this unexplored strand of the legend and created a character called ‘Gajaangan’ — a child with an elephant’s body and a human head — which comes to Parvathi in her dreams.

“They are often sympathised with but that is not what they need. Differently abled children need to be able to feel like they are capable and not discouraged,” said the artist. He points to two of his paintings that best illustrates this: the first shows Gajaangan enviously peering over the shoulder of Ganesha watching him write and draw.

The dejected child with the elephant body is coaxed by Parvathi to try another method, of using his mouth to draw, in the next painting.

As a continuation of the campaign, a dance drama on the same theme will be held at Thrissur on August 31 by the Saalabhanjika Studio for Arts and Performance.



Source : The Hindu , 6th July 2013

Now, magnetic shirts for differently abled : Washington

A clothing designer has created a line of shirts that have magnets embedded into them so that the user doesn't fumble with buttons.

Maura Horton, CEO of MagnaReady, and who is also the wife of former NC State Football Coach Don Horton, said it was his desire for independence while suffering from Parkinson's disease that inspired her to come up with this unique solution, Fox News reported.

A clothing designer has created a line of shirts that have magnets embedded into them so that the user doesn't fumble with buttons. 

The disease had affected Don's hand's mobility so much that after one of the games he had to ask one of his players to button up his shirt.

Maura used her skills as a former kid's clothing designer to develop the shirts with buttons, and button holes, which were purely decorative.

She said that buttoning the shirts, which she created is as simple as lining up the magnets and hearing them click.


Source : TOI , 6th July 2013

From portable habitat to recreation site, architecture students show their mettle

Final year students of Architecture College of Chandigarh showed the final display of their unique architectural innovations on Thursday evening. The designs consist of a portable habitat, an institution for physically challenged persons and a recreation site.

The cost-effective temporary shelter, designed by Gurpal Singh Dhaliwal, came into being due to his empathy for displaced people. The shelter is of two modules, and lasts for two or more months according to the materials used. Module A is of 4.5 m X 4.5m and it can be constructed in three hours by two persons. It has the space to provide habitation for four members. Module B is 3.5m X 7.5 m with the freedom to expand as required. The structure is portable and flexible.

"The design of these temporary shelters has come during a time when it is much needed, when people are in fear and are displaced. This design is very practical and cost effective," said Harsh Narang, co-founder and chief architect of Modern India Architects Private Limited.

In a country like India, where the physically challenged are unsupported by the kind of buildings and roads that are constructed, there is a strong need for disabled-friendly building structures. It is this need that inspired Shani Kumar, a physically-challenged person himself, to bring forward a building design that incorporates elements to accommodate the orthopaedically disabled, blind, deaf and persons incapable of using speech.

A deserted 8-acre area in Ludhiana is where Kumar aims for the design to be constructed, and he has given the proposal to Delhi-based NGO Amar Jyoti."The perception of architecture for a blind or any other differently-abled person is based on the touch, fragrance, temperature and shapes of the buildings and paths. My design is non-symmetrical and its area consists of flowers and trees in varying fragrances at different intervals. The whole area is comfortable to traverse on a wheelchair too," said Kumar.

Shewa Sethi has redesigned a deserted building near Indra Prastha, Delhi. The new design aims at transforming the whole area around the building into a recreational area consisting of a multipurpose building with a capacity of 2,000 seats.

"The ideas pertain to the current environmental issues and the students have carried through the process with good guidance. All the designs are extremely good in terms of architecture and are very sensitively derived," said Karan Dev Singh Mankotia, Principal, Indo Global College of Architecture, Abhipur.


Source :  The Indian Express , Chandigarh ; 5th July 2013

26 physically challenged students at Anandwan clear SSC exam : Nagpur

When the meritorious SSC students in the cities across the state were celebrating their success in exams, there was a bunch of twenty six students from the special school at Anandwan who took time to react. 13 deaf and mute and 12 blind students cleared the Standard X board exam with two getting 75% marks, informs Dr Sheetal Amte, who runs the school.

"Dharti Todase got 75.8% and Gokul Pardi 75% marks while six others have attained more than 70%. It is a commendable feat as these children study against heavy odds," says Amte.

These physically challenged children hail from extremely poor families where they are considered a burden. So the parents leave them at the residential schools just to get rid of them. "But our residential facilities are only till Standard VII. After that these children have to return to their homes." This is what makes this achievement all the more commendable. "The children have to drop out after class 7th. To appear for Standard X examination they need to resume studies after three years. They take the exams through Form 17 which permits them to appear externally," says Amte.

"Underprivileged disabled children bear the maximum brunt of apathy and indifference of the society," feels Amte. There are no residential facilities for higher studies for such children. "Since last ten years we are trying to accommodate at least 20 to 25 children for the class X board exams in our school. But it is a difficult work. Members of our faculty Sanjay Penche and others teach them pro bono," informs Amte.

Only 1% of disabled children are able to pursue their studies beyond class X. That's because they require conducive environment, compatible living space, trained teachers and other facilities to be able to do so. It speaks of the grit of these students that many have completed their LLB courses and are now employed.

"This year we have already got 22 blind students and 15 deaf and mute students and six more may join," informs Amte. Her major concern is lack of funds. "We hope to make these children economically independent so that they can live with dignity. This is possible only when they can pursue higher studies." Amte says that she needs financial aid for this project which would take care of boarding and lodging facilities of students, the salary of the faculty and teaching aids and stationary material. "We have space for up to 50 children but don't have the required funds to keep them with us," she says.

Source : TOI , 5th July 2013 

Delays for certificates add insult to handicap injury : Nagpur

Seventeen-year-old Mrunal Balkote has club feet deformity since birth. Despite all efforts and treatment, 40% disability remains. He has acquired a 'temporary disability certificate' as his parents are still trying to treat the deformity. As he sought admission in a college this year, he had been given a proforma to verify his disability status.

This form needed signatures of either the civil surgeon, dean of either Government Medical College and Hospital (GMCH) or Indira Gandhi Government Medical College and Hospital (IGGMCH), or director of All India Institute of Physical Handicap, Mumbai. At IGGMCH, he was told to go to GMCH as those from the city should go there. At GMCH, he was told the work of disability certificates could only be done on Wednesday and that he would be given a date of appointment for the process as there were many people waiting.

"By Wednesday, the date of submission of the form had elapsed. We already had a disability certificate. When other documents like caste and domicile certificates are accepted by the colleges, why can't they accept the disability certificate," asked Mrunal's father Suresh Balkote.

Several people like the Balkotes are having a tough time as admission to colleges and job offers for graduates take precedence. The high number of such people has caught the authorities off guard, too. For over three decades, this certification was done by the district civil surgeon at IGGMCH. However a GR issued last year changed the signatory authority for certificate from civil surgeon to the dean of the medical colleges, GMCH for the urban and IGGMCH for the rural areas.

Even those who only wish for renewal of their disability certificate face many problems. "Though it does not take much time, doctors believe it to be a tedious and time-consuming procedure. In GMCH since the centre is open only for one day in a week, when one applies for any procedure they are given a date, sometimes of two or three months later," said Amit Patel, a volunteer at the handicap facility centre which helps the physically challenged with information regarding various government schemes.

Authorities at GMCH say since the service has only just begun at the hospital, they are still experimenting with the best possible way to do it. "We did not realize the number of people coming for the certificate will be so high. Now that we know, we would soon be starting the service for two days in a week. As per the state government's order, we are also in the process of making the service available online," informed PRO of the hospital Dr Murari Singh.

Confusion worst confounded

For decades, the handicap certification was being done at Indira Gandhi Government Medical College and Hospital and signed by the civil surgeon whose office was also in the hospital premises. This signature was received after physical examination by the doctors of IGGMCH.

Last February, the directorate of medical education and research and directorate of health services informed the hospital authorities that the signatory would be the dean of the medical college. For over four months, the service was discontinued as confusion prevailed.

IGGMCH, which is being burdened by several public responsibilities and gravely understaffed, wished to share the responsibility with Government Medical College and Hospital (GMCH) which has relatively more manpower and infrastructure. Finally, the responsibilities were divided between the two, GMCH getting the responsibility to cater to urban population and IGGMCH to the rural.

In October, the service was started at GMCH but many people still go to IGGMCH asking for the certificate or its renewal and have to be redirected. With the huge premises of GMCH and the departments scattered all across, the handicapped people are finding it difficult and inconvenient to roam through the hospital for certificates.

Source : TOI , 5th July 2013 

Lukewarm response to free higher education for special children : Guwahati

The KK Handique State Open University (KKHSOU) has received a lukewarm response to its mission to provide free higher education to differently-abled and visually-impaired children. The mission was introduced last year.

KKHSOU vice-chancellor Srinath Baruah said that the poor awareness level regarding the university's mission has been the biggest hurdle in getting special children enrolled.

"Thousands of differently-abled and visually-impaired children are deprived of a formal education at the graduation level in the state.

So, our university decided to start bachelor's preparatory programme (BPP) and bachelor of arts courses free of cost for special children from 2012-13. But KKHSOU enrolled only 22 differently-abled students and six visually-impaired students," said Baruah.

Though some NGOs with the help of the state government have been running schools for special children, the KKHSOU is the first to provide free higher education to them.

The state social welfare department has been imparting education up to Class X through the Government BDS Deaf and Dumb School, Guwahati, Blind School, Jorhat and Blind School, Basistha, Guwahati.

"The state government has reserved three per cent seats in government jobs for differently-abled and visually-impaired candidates. But unfortunately, parents are not responding well to us. We want such candidates to settle down in life and become self-dependent," the vice-chancellor added. The authorities of KKHSOU university recently sent a proposal to the state government for starting BPP and BA courses for the deaf and dumb children. "Our aim is to make higher education affordable and available to special children free of cost," Baruah said.

Source : TOI , 5th July 2013

DGCA wants airlines to allow in-flight stretchers, guide dogs for disabled : New Delhi

 If the aviation regulator DGCA has his way, airlines will have to make provisions for providing stretchers and allow guide dogs inside the cabin for passengers with reduced mobility or disability.

Indian airlines have been notoriously callous when it comes to any passenger needing special assistance. There have been complaints aplenty about blind passengers not being allowed to board, people in wheelchairs being handled by flight attendants without proper care. And there are very few known instances of trained guide dogs being allowed inside the cabin.

Airlines cannot refuse passage to any passenger with any level of disability. Not just the disabled, airlines cannot even refuse to carry escorts, trained dogs          

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In a draft titled ‘Carriage by Air Persons with Disability and/or Persons with Reduced Mobility’, DGCA Arun Mishra has sought airlines’ comments on various aspects of carrying the disabled on flights. On the face of it, the DGCA has sought to make all the right provisions for air travel of the disabled. But will airlines stick to these regulations?

1) Airlines cannot refuse passage to any passenger with any level of disability. Not just the disabled, airlines cannot even refuse to carry escorts, trained dogs or any assistive devices needed by such passengers.


2) But the disable wishing to travel by air must also show some responsibility: they need to initimate the airline about their specific needs at least 48 hours before travel for the airline to make specific arrangements.


3) Not just disabled needing a wheelchair, even those who are on a stretcher or an incubator cannot be denied a flight. If an advance request is received, airlines will in fact have to provide stretchers etc themselves for such patients.


4) The disabled should normally be boarded before other passengers and de-boarded after everyone else has done so.


5) Airport operators too are expected to help by providing ambulance facilities, wheel chairs etc on request. And the airlines are required to hold special training session for their staff to sensitize them toward handling the disabled.

We would say the last point is certainly the most important. Sensitivity towards handling the disabled would go a long way in making air travel humane for everyone.


Source : First Post - Business , 5th July 2013

CIVIL AVIATION NEW DRAFT IN SUPPORT TO PWDD'S AIR TRAVEL !

 

 

Original Draft :

http://dgca.nic.in/misc/draft%20cars/D3M-M1_Draft_July2013_.pdf

Madras HC Directed State : Reserved Seats for MBBS to Person with Disabilities

 

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'Reserve three medical seats for differently-abled'

Source : The New Indian Express , Chennai ;  2nd July 2013

The Madras High Court has directed the authorities concerned to reserve three seats in the first year MBBS course under the disabled category for three candidates for 2013-14.

Justice KK Sasidharan gave the direction on Monday, when the writ petitions from T Nalini of Injimedu village in Tiruvannamalai district and two others came up today.

According to Nalini, she met with an accident and her left leg had been amputated below the knee. She was fitted with an artificial leg and she could walk and even run.

She was issued with a disability certificate by the district authorities, who assessed her of having 60 per cent locomotor disability.

She was also subjected to medical examination and the district medical board assessed the disability at 65 per cent and gave a certificate to that effect.

She was invited for counselling on June 18 last. She was again subjected to medical examination and the panel of doctors assessed the disability at 75 per cent. Following this, she was not given the seat.

Petitioner contended that the intention of the Disability Act, 1995, was to help the persons with disability.

The attitude of the authorities concerned to reappraise the percentage of disability, who had already been subjected to medical examination by the district medical board, would be unfair and would lead to malpractice and corruption.

Last year, nine seats reserved under disabled category were not filled up for want of disabled candidates and they all went to other normal candidates, petitioner pointed out. The rejection of her candidature based upon the fresh medical examination at the time of counselling that she was not eligible or did not come within the purview of the guidelines issued in this regard, was illegal, unjustified, biased and arbitrary, petitioner further contended.



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Keep 3 MBBS seats vacant for disabled people, high court tells state
Source  : TOI , 2nd July 2013

 
The Madras high court has directed the state government and authorities in charge of MBBS admissions this year to keep three seats vacant to accommodate three disabled students who had moved the court after being denied admission during counselling last month. Last year, nine MBBS seats meant for disabled candidates fell vacant, and had to be allotted to regular candidates.

Justice KK Sasidharan, passing orders on the writ petitions of T Nalini, an amputee from Vandavasi and two others — Anbumani of Tiruchi R Devipriya of Kancheepuram district — said: "Before the start of the second counselling for MBBS admissions, three seats should be kept vacant."

It was Nalini's contention that her left leg was amputated below the knee after an accident a few years ago. After an artificial limb was fixed, she could walk and run, she said, adding that the Tiruvannamalai district authorities examined her and assessed her locomotor disability as 60%. When the district medical board examined her, it certified that she had 65% disability.

However, on June 18, when she attended counselling for MBBS admissions, she was examined by a panel of doctors which assessed her disability as 75%, thereby disqualifying her for MBBS admission. Only candidates with 40% to 70% disability are qualified under the quota.

Nalini moved the high court saying the finding of the panel, that too after she had been examined and certified twice by district-level committees, went against the objective of the Persons with Disabilities (Equal Opportunities, Protection of Rights and Full Participation) Act, 1995.


Referring to last year's scenario, when nine seats reserved for disabled could not be filled because eligible candidates were not available, Nalini said such a practice would encourage corruption and malpractice in MBBS admissions. When contacted, selection committee secretary Dr RG Sukumar said, "We have not received any communication in this regard as yet. A decision on the seat allocation for the three disabled students would be made after Friday."




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HC comes to the rescue of differently abled students

Source : Business Standard Via PTI , 1st July 2013

Coming to the rescue of three disabled students including a girl, the Madras High Court today ordered the Tamil Nadu government to keep vacant three MBBS seats for their admission while rejecting the Medical Board report disqualifying them.

Justice K K Sasidharan passed the interim order directing that the seats be kept vacant before the second round of counselling for MBBS seats commenced.

The order came on writ petitions filed by T Nalini of Vandavasi, R Anbumani of Tiruchirappalli and R Devipriya of Kancheepuram district who had challenged the Medical Board's decision disqualifying them for admission into MBBS course under disabled persons quota.


 
 

Kalyaan - Mumbai : Protest by workers in Mahavitran

Irked with the apathy of the authorities towards their demands, 125 employees of Mahavitaran staged a protest outside the Kalyan head office on Wednesday.

GR Patil, zonal secretary MSEB Worker Federation, said “Employment for kin of those who die on duty, medical insurance and monsoon kits are some of the demands that have not been addressed for years Besides, the officials also transferred a physically challenged assistant auditor from Kalyan Anil Gosavi, to Vasai. The decision is nothing but harassment.”

Bharat Pawar, public relations officer, Mahavitaran, Kalyan said, “The agitation is just to pressurise the management to get the transfer order cancelled Gosavi has been promoted to the Vasai office. Taking his handicap into account, he has been allotted a house in the office premises.”

According to the company policy, an employee cannot be working in one divisional office for more than five years. Gosav has been working in the Kalyan office since he joined. While he got promoted, there was no vacant post in the office that he could occupy, Pawar said.


Source : Hindustan Times , 4th July 2013

New courses won’t trouble the visually challenged: Delhi University

Delhi University on Wednesday informed the High Court that it would "follow in letter and spirit" the recommendations of the empowered committee created to look into the issues regarding problems faced by physically challenged students in the four-year undergraduate programme.

Appearing before the court of Acting Chief Justice B D Ahmad and Justice Vibhu Bakhru, senior advocate Pinki Anand said the university had come up with "alternative courses in History of Science and History of Mathematics" for the visually challenged students in case they were unable to take the compulsory papers in mathematics and science which have been introduced for first year students in the new four-year format. NGO Sambhavna had filed a PIL, claiming that visually challenged students would be at a disadvantage since they would be unable to study for the mathematics and science papers.

The University had earlier informed the court that it had formed an "empowered committee" to look into the issue and submit its recommendations.

The report of the committee, which was submitted during the hearing, also lists "affirmative measures" for physically challenged students, such as "exemption from all kinds of fees, including hostel fee, 50 per cent rebate in mess charges for students of the university, providing laptops to all students with disabilities and making Metro rides free".

"We also make it clear that a recommendation in the report mentions two alternative papers in History of Mathematics and History of Science should be implemented so that the students who have any problem with the normal courses of mathematical ability and science of life will be able to catch up," the court said in its order.

The plea filed by the NGO had said that students with visual impairment were exempted from studying science and maths after Class VIII in same cases and after Class X in most cases. 

"In case the existing approved programme is implemented, such students shall not be able to meet the requirements of the foundation course in the first year of the four-year undergraduate programme," the petition said.

During the hearing on Wednesday, senior advocate Anand told the court that the science and maths courses were not "pure science and maths" but were "geared towards developing scientific mindset and analytical ability".

"There is no practical work requirement in the papers, so visually impaired students will not be inconvenienced," Anand said.

The lawyer also told the court that there was "plenty of time to develop the course material" and that "adaptive devices and methods of instruction" were being developed to ensure that the physically challenged students do not suffer any disadvantage.

The University has also informed the court that it would provide laptops with non-visual desktop access (NVAD) software to all visually impaired students so that they do not fall behind in their education. "Visually impaired students would be able to cope with study with the help of technology, peer tutoring and reading material available," Anand said.

Source : The  Indian Express , 4th July 2013