Interview
Volume 4 Issue 16 - August 15, 2006
Are Indian disabled citizens truly independent?
As the current issue of D.N.I.S. happens
to coincide with our country’s Independence Day, we decided to ask a dozen
leaders from the Indian cross-disability movement one pertinent question
- Are Indian disabled citizens truly independent? Following are their
responses (in alphabetical order):
Arun Rao, Director,
The
For one to be independent,
it is first of all necessary to believe that one can be independent and then
to have the systems in place to actually be 'independent'. The Indian disabled
citizen has to fight to achieve both these criteria.
The average Indian
deaf person has no access to education or even to a language in which he may
be taught, no higher education what so ever, no access to information through
electronic media though he has the right to it! Most certainly
not independent in any way.
Asha Mehra,
Secretary,
Swavalamban
To be truly independent,
that is to have total freedom to do as they wish is still a dream for Indian
disabled citizens. According to me, the progress of a country can be judged
by the way it cares for its disabled population.
D.S. Chauhan, General Secretary,
What a question?
Independent? Disabled persons at that? The
answer is of course No. Whether it is childhood, or growing years, adulthood
or old age, they need support. Why? Because the Government has miserably failed
to meet even their very basic needs like education, training or rehabilitation.
How they can be independent?
George Abraham, Chief
Executive Officer, Score Foundation
Yes and No. On
a personal front, I feel that I am as independent as everybody else in terms
of participating as well as contributing to national, social and family life.
But on a more general
platform, the voice of the disabled people has been suppressed due to lack
of opportunities such as freedom of education, and even opening a bank account
in case of visually impaired people.
J.L. Kaul, Secretary General, All
In my view nobody is truly independent
in this world. All of us are dependent
on others for one or the other reason, to limited or greater extent.
If we look back on the status of visually
impaired persons, we will find that about 50 years back they were totally
dependent on their families. They were
also not integrated in the society but today those who have got an opportunity,
have achieved heights in their lives.
No doubt majority of the disabled people
are still not independent in taking decisions and leading their life as per
their wishes. But that way, majority of the country’s population is also not independent in their lives.
J.P. Gadkari, President, PARIVAAR
The real independence of a person with
disability can only be guaranteed if there is strict implementation of the
laws enacted for them, ensuring economic independence and change in the mindset
of the society.
Ketaki Bardalai, Coordinator, Legislation
& Advocacy, A.A.D.I.
No, not really, not yet! Particularly if we look at a country-wide perspective beyond the urban
prism. Even after 60 years, disabled Indian citizens continue to be
stonewalled by barriers of attitude and environment. The attitudinal barriers
are harder to overcome.
But, the scenario is changing,
albeit very slowly and largely due to the heroic personal daily struggle of
persons with disability. We really
do have "...miles to go before we sleep..."
Ketan Kothari, Secretary, Blind Graduates Forum of
People in
Our politicians
have no concern. N.G.O.s are
also doing what they have been doing for ages. What is required is the awakening
amongst the disabled and their education and appropriate training so that
they could become taxpayers instead of tax consumers.
Merry Barua,
Director, Action
for Autism
This begs
a simple answer to a complicated question. We need policy changes, we need
access, we need services, but first we need to change the way we view those
who are different. We the people of
Dr. Mithu
Alur, Founder Chairperson, National
Resource Centre for Inclusion
I would think that
disabled people in
imprisoned in an inaccessible environment… trapped within a framework of negativity
and being a disabled in
Salil Chaturvedi, Partner, Splash! Communications
No. Disabled people
in
On a positive note,
the situation is changing and disabled citizens are also learning that independence
comes from asserting one’s rights.
Subhash Datrange, Rehabilitation
Consultant, Association for Blindness & Low Vision
When independence is translated into measurable
objectives that are enshrined in the Constitution and various legislations
in the form of fundamental rights, we see that we have a long way to go.
Unless the mindset of the society and the State changes, and enabling conditions are created, disabled people cannot enjoy the fruits of independence. True emancipation and liberation of disabled people is a distant dream and I’m afraid it may not be achieved in our lifetime.
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Interview
- Are Indian disabled citizens truly independent?
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