Celebration of special abilities on World Disability Day

New Delhi: It`s not easy to be a disabled in India. For every disabled person raring to fight his way through, there are many more who feel only despair."Although I manage to get through the written tests, when it comes to job interviews, the employer always eyes me with suspicion, as if to question my capability to handle the job, and inevitably shows me the door," said wheel chair bound Vimal Singh, as the country observed World Disability Day Monday.

Activists agree that many others like Singh have had similar experiences. Although the government sector has a 3% reservation for the disabled, the private sector is yet to make any significant contribution. No wonder then that a World Bank report, released about two weeks back, says the employment rate among the physically challenged in India has dropped from 43% to 38% in the past decade. Despite this scenario, there are many who strive to overcome their handicaps -- and succeed. Unfortunately, say activists, they are in a minority. The disabled insist that their disability is essentially a state of the mind. Lakshmi Sharma, a blind schoolteacher in Delhi, said: "It`s all in the mind. So what if I can`t see? My other senses are so sharp that they more than make up for my eyes.” "There are challenges but what I always tell myself is that we are stronger than the rest. We face so many difficulties and yet have the courage to get on with life. I have been teaching in a school for the past 10 years. I know my students well and we share an excellent rapport. Often they come to drop me back home. What more can I ask for?" she added. Sarla, who is hearing impaired and works as a laboratory assistant in one of the colleges in Delhi University, said: "My colleagues, the professors, even the students, they are all very patient with me." "Of course I have to work harder, concentrate more on what they are trying to say, what they want. But at the end of the day, the hard work pays off. I go home satisfied," said Sarla using sign language, with her colleague translating. But not all are as fortunate as Lakshmi and Sarla. The fact remains that the disabled have little or no support from the various sections of the society. Abhilasha Narayan, a social activist who works with the disabled, said: "No matter how disabled friendly we claim to be, the ground reality is far from it. Even if these people want to work or travel long distances, the environment is just not disabled friendly. After so long, low floor buses have hit the roads. We still have a long way to go." There are around 600 million people living with various disabilities across the world. Bureau Report