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About
twenty five kilometers from where Javed Abidi, 38, contested his
election from New Delhi constituency in the Lok Sabha elections a
group of disabled people from below the poverty line in West Delhi
discuss how to improve their own self-employment prospects, under
the guidance of Rajinder Johar, a quadriplegic.
Unaware of news involving Mr Abidi’s effort to enter electoral
arena these women and men, victims of some form of disability, are
struggling against all odds to improve the quality of their own
life and that of their kith and kin. Thanks to Apna Rozgar
programme under which Rs 3,000 has been given as initial capital
to about 165 disabled persons to run some kind of petty business,
pan shops, etc.
Asked how this effort has really brought change in their lives, Mr
Johar told Humanscape, “All these 165 people and families
have been saved from falling prey to anti-social elements.” With
80-90 per cent of success rate, more and more disabled persons are
being referred for Apna Rozgar programme. But Johar who has been
publishing a magazine exclusively for the sector, The Voice,
is facing cash-crunch.
By interviewing the beneficiaries of Apna Rozgar programme one
realised that after more than five decades of independence nothing
is shining despite the crores of rupees being spent on advertising
it.
All of them, like Abidi, want more accessibility, a change in
attitude, and more avenues for education and employment. Even as
they are vocal about it, they realise these things can be seldom
achieved as long as they continue to be divided. Says Rajiv
Khatoch, a visually handicapped who earns Rs 6,000 monthly thanks
to Apna Rozgar programme, “If we, in the disabled sector, have
to achieve, we have to be united. There are four blind federations
in the capital. If one of them gives a call for protest, the other
three stay back.”
Echoing Rajiv’s statement, other beneficiaries express the
immediate need for reservation for the disabled sector, not only
in the government but also in private and multi-national companies
that have flooded the country. Whether these dreams can ever be
translated into action is a moot question before the sector.
Probably due to the snail’s pace of activity it will be long
before these could be achieved.
After Rajiv Gandhi became the Prime Minister he recognised
disability as a core issue and appointed a high-powered committee
under the chairmanship of Justice Baharul Islam. The committee
gave its report in 1988 but before anything very concrete could
materialise, Rajiv Gandhi went out of power in 1989. The Congress
government under PV Narasimha Rao picked up the issue from where
it was left and, to cut a long story short, the Persons with
Disabilities (Equal Opportunities, Protection of Rights and Full
Participation) Act, 1995 was passed by the Indian Parliament in
December 1995. It was notified on 7 February 1996 and thus, it
became the law of the land. Indeed a red-letter day. But there was
no action even as the piece of legislation continues to gather
dust.
For example, Abidi has been writing to the election commission
since 1995 to make polling stations accessible to disabled
sectors. Eight years later, the Commission’s action has been
restricted to receiving memorandums alone. Asks Abidi, “Is it
for Mr Abidi as a disabled person or as part of disabled groups,
to tell the Election Commission what is the law of this
country?”
Criminal negligence towards the disabled sector is not limited to
this alone. It extends to every walk of life. A few disabled
persons have been denied positions even after successfully
completing civil services examinations. “I can understand that
somebody with a disability cannot join the police services. But
how can they say that we are not fit for any of the other
services?” asks Abidi.
There are some seven million employable disabled people who are
without jobs in India, but only 3,000 to 4,000 of them are
recruited every year. Similarly, the education for all under Sarva
Shiksha Abhiyan seems to be limited to non-disabled Indians while
the Centre despite its fan-fare regarding the Abhiyan has
conveniently forgotten the disabled sector. With a sizeable number
of people being disenfranchised through neglect and official
apathy, the Indian democracy cannot yet claim to be wholly
inclusive.
Both the major parties, in their effort to indulge in mud slinging
and rhetoric forgot to address the disabled sector in their
so-called corporate-style vision documents.
Probably these factors might help the disabled sector to
strengthen itself in the democracy even as Abidi acknowledges it
does not matter whether he wins or not. But the disabled sector
would certainly emerge as winner in times to come.
Does
Vajpayee want to be recognised as disabled?
Javed
Abidi, 38 and wheelchair-user contested as an independent
candidate from the New Delhi constituency pitted against culture
and tourism minister, Jagmohan. He is driven by his determination
to create political space for 70 million disabled Indians.
You
have been in the forefront of the disabled movement for more than
two decades now. What motivated you to join the political
bandwagon?
It is not an individual’s decision or desire for a
political career. The decision to nominate me from the New Delhi
constituency was from disability rights groups in the country.
After deep introspection it was decided that we should no longer
restrict ourselves to mere advocacy but jump into electoral fray
to make a political statement. It was also decided to nominate a
candidate from where we are strongest instead of a few candidates.
Is
the sector strong enough to make a political statement from New
Delhi constituency?
The movement is strong as compared to other metros. Also the
constituency is significant for several factors. It is symbolic of
what we want to say because it is the heart of the country. This
is where the president, prime minister, and leader of the
opposition reside. It is a tangible constituency as it is spread
around 68 kilometers with 5.8 lakh voters. More importantly, it is
literate and has thinking voters. People should understand what we
want to say.
On
what ground are you seeking mandate?
People should think apolitical. They should give a chance to a
person with disability who represents the cause he is espousing.
In
view of this victory, how far do you think advocacy pays more than
electoral politics?
I don’t see them as two different tools. The decision to contest
the polls is also in a way, advocacy. Dharna, gherao and
filing public interest litigations are tools like fighting an
election.
You
are contesting elections to champion the cause of disabled sector.
But we already have an able parliamentarian and former information
and broadcasting minister S Jaipal Reddy. Don’t you think his
presence has helped the cause of the sector?
Disability by default is not necessarily representative of
the cause of disability. If a person is disabled but hates being
disabled and refuses to be recognised, how do you expect him to be
representing disability? For that matter, (former) prime
minister AB Vajpayee is disabled. As per medical tests, if there
is more than 40 per cent impairment, then a person is disabled.
But does he want to be recognised as disabled. Is he willing to
take a certificate of disability?
Mr Reddy is on crutches. But with due respect to him he has not
been representative of the disabled sector. When he became the
I&B minister in HD Deve Gowda’s ministry all the disabled
groups were thrilled. When they went to see Mr Reddy, they were
turned away saying that he had nothing to do with disability.
Barring
the issue of accessibility, the problems of education and
unemployment haunts various marginalised sectors?
It is unfair to compare which marginalised sector is more
marginalised.
Then,
what is ground reality in the disability sector?
We are on the fringes of society and polity. Take for instance:
the national literacy rate is 60 per cent. But the average
literacy level among the disabled is a mere two per cent. We have
been, time again, asking human resources development ministry who
are they running the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan for? Is it for all the
non-disabled Indians or is it for all the Indians that include the
disabled sector as well.
Less than one per cent of the disabled person is employed, and
that too, in the unorganised sector.
What
about accessibility?
There is three per cent reservation for the disabled sector. But
what is the use of this when we cannot have adequate resources to
access it and when we are forced to confine ourselves to houses
and not go to schools or colleges.
How
far do you think the decision to provide wooden ramps and Braille
numerical in the electronic voting machine is a shot in the arm
for the disabled movement?
It is a victory for democracy.
Although the Supreme Court has given relief for the first phase on
20th April as our petition was on 19th
April. However it directed that wooden ramps should be provided
for second phase of polling as far as possible and made it
compulsory for the third and fourth phase of polling. The Braille
numerical will be provided from the next round of elections when
several assemblies go to polls in September.
(On 20th April, the Supreme Court realised it was
not possible to provide wooden ramps. So it asked the Election
Commission to make it available partially on the second phase of
polling on 26th April. The Court, however, issued
directions that wooden ramps should be compulsorily made available
for the remaining phase of the elections on 5th and 10th
May. According to Javed Abidi, there are mixed reports about the
facilitation of wooden ramps during the recent elections.
The Court also directed the revision of electoral rolls to
ascertain the disabled persons in the country so that adequate
facilities, like modification of electronic voting machines, could
be undertaken. The Braille numerical will be provided from the
next round of elections when several assemblies will go to polls
in September.)
What
will your elections achieve?
We are 70 million. This is roughly about six to seven per cent of
the population. We are as much as the citizens of this country
like others. We are demanding equal participation in the Indian
democracy. Democracy is all about decision-making. Our decision to
contest the polls signifies the paradigm shift from charity-based
to right-based movement.
How
come despite being in large numbers you have been neglected by
political parties?
This is because we are ‘invisible minorities’. Disabled people
are not seen. They cannot move out of their houses due to poor
transport facilities, lack of ramps etc. Since we are invisible
politicians and parties neglect us.
We wrote to ten major parties to include the disability issue in
their manifesto and invited them to our political convention. Only
Muktar Abbas Naqvi of BJP and Nilotpal Basu of CPM visited us.
Even though Congress had deputed Jairam Ramesh, he failed to turn
up. Only Left parties had a cursory mention of the disability
issue, others did not.
But there were derogatory references to us in the BJP manifesto.
It mentioned employment opportunities to “all the abled-bodied
youth”. We were appalled and raised an objection to in a letter
to BJP president M Venkaiah Naidu. There was no response, but
after introspection, the NDA vision document mentioned the sector
in a better manner. But it is cursory and failed to mention issues
of the disabled sector.
If
there are electoral compulsions for political parties, do you
think that eminent people from the disabled sector can be
nominated to Rajya Sabha?
That is for the political parties to think. Many of those
nominated to the Upper House do not open their mouth at all during
their tenure.
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