World Disability Day: Tryst with Want & Can’t Gap Persists
op left To right Hemraj, Raminder Kaur Amole, Ratan extreme right Below left Ashok and products by AADI and MESH. Image Credit Bhawna Malik
‘Want & Can’t’ Psychologic Conflict Common in Human Existence
Parliament has enacted laws, and the governments have framed rules to dispel discrimination against the people facing ability deficit due to physical conditions. Yet, a section of such people states that accessibility remains a challenge as they seek to overwhelm the ability deficit due to physical conditions in gaining economic and social empowerment.
Bhawna Malik in a special report for The Raisina Hills spoke to special educators, NGO founders and persons with disabilities to understand their world of dreams, desires, and aspirations.
“Diaries, paper bags, tea mugs and block printing cloth bags are our specialty and our products are reasonably priced,” says Hemraj, from AADI (Action for Ability, Development and Inclusion), formerly the Spastic Society of Northern India.
Hemraj, a divyang, is working with AADI, for the last 10 years. Has he made beautiful bags and envelops. “No, I am the supervisor for the stall of AADI,” he quickly adds.
Though his head shakes a bit due to a condition that ails him, he is at ease with calculations and doubly checks the rate card when anyone buys a product. The pride of being self-reliant is evident.
“We do not focus on what we cannot do. Rather we see what a person can do. The abilities matter more than disability,” says Raminder Kaur Amole, also working with AADI for the past 20 years. She helps Hemraj and also looks after customers buying products.
She further elaborates on AADI’ s role in helping persons with disabilities getting employment and how inclusion in every sphere is a solution in bridging gap between able and disabled.
“Needs of every person are same but ways to satisfy them may vary. When we feel hungry, we order food or can take it ourselves. But some person might need assistance to order or even eat. Hunger is the same,” says Amole.
She states that “we as a society need to be more aware, sensitive and accepting”. She takes a backseat to give full space to Hemraj to handle everything independently, not making him feel incomplete.
“AADI has a creative group as well as a cooking group. We teach them to make tea, and cook Maggie. It empowers them and makes them feel part of everything. We must do away with the charity model and treat them as equals,” adds Amole.
Ratan, founder of MESH (Maximizing Employment to serve the Handicapped), has 35 active producer groups all over India. “We work not only with disabled persons but also the leprosy patients. The leprosy patients live in a separate colony and they weave clothes for us. We share profit with them and also market their products. If required we teach them skills also,” states Ratan.
MESH deals in tote bags, umbrellas, canvas bags, towels, napkins, kitchen towels, dolls, and bath mats. Seventy per cent of MESH products are exported to Germany, Australia and Sweden.
“Fair trade for us means that the 35 producer groups are part of our one family. The labour and the profit is paid and shared well with the people making these products. We do not exploit their hard work or their disability,” adds Ratan.
He further elaborates, saying “the People buy from us and we are regular at all the leading exhibitions in Delhi and other cities”. “We showcase our products at college festivals too and our bags are favourite with young students,” Ratan smilingly explains.
“Disability discourse must be generalised. It must be a part of regular discussions,” says Ashok Asudani. He hails from Nagpur, while working as an assistant general manager at the Reserve Bank of India. He is also a poet, translator and a regular presenter with Sahitya Academy in Delhi.
Speaking further on the issue of ‘Want and Can’t’, Asudani says: “The portrayal of disabled person in literature, and the literature by a disabled person has been discussed a lot but ‘want and can’t’ needs more attention.” He has published two poetry books in Hindi and Sindhi.
Elaborating further on the conflict of ‘want and can’t’, he adds: “It is not just with the disabled person but this concept has two dimensions – firstly, as a visually impaired poet and a translator despite technical developments and software availability I want to see certain things but can’t, and this causes the hindrance. Secondly, ‘want and can’t’ dilemma is in everyone. For example, in Shakespeare’s play Hamlet, Hamlet wants to take revenge from his father but can’t; so is this disability — no this is a psychological conflict which every human might experience at any time.”
Disability Act, 2016 aims to ensure equality, inclusion and better opportunities. But the banking professional and the poet has complaints. “We all talk about rights. Disabled have rights. Disabled poets, writers, sportspersons should participate in events but fail in accessibility like ramps or human aid if required. So, social acceptance, camaraderie and a brotherhood emotion has to be in place,” adds the poet.
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