Being a social activist and volunteer in community service, having had to mingle with various people and people with special needs was always there. However, such interactions only pained me within. It is not because I am sensitive to the limitations of people around me, but because as a system we are such a failure even today when we are talking about Robotic Sciences, Artificial Intelligence, Cognitive technology, and explore Space and Earth beyond imagination.
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| At Worth Trust Katpadi |
Though I know Siddharth Jayakumar and his condition of Cerebral Palsy since many long years, it is only after we started to write the book, that I could see from his side of life. Struggle is a small word and sympathy is the harshest feeling once can show to people like Sidd.
Who needs your sympathy! Being empathetic to the situation and creating a comfortable living to everyone in this society is the NEED, a Necessity, not a privilege asked for.
Forget about beaches and exhibitions being accessible in wheel chairs or the blind, is our most necessary places accessible? How many local Railway stations and bus stands are wheel chair friendly? Do we have banks having ramps or lifts in all areas? Are our schools ready for inclusion? Even after 20 years since a guy like Siddharth fought his way into Boston Matriculation School, for mainstream education, we still find it a challenge.
Being differently abled is not a curse. But in India, it is an unfortunate situation. Visually challenged vendors in train teach us that they too want to live in dignity. SoulFree kind of organizations provoke our thinking towards taking inclusion to the grass roots. Worth Trust kind of industries and rehabilitation centers keep doing in what they believe silently and successfully without the drama of publicity or government intervention.
We need one Para-Olympic Mariaapan to tell us despite all the struggles, they stay motivated. We take pride in the success of Deepa Malik for the achievements she brought into the country. But, for a moment, pause and think....have we done what is needed around us.
INCLUSION is a big word. A great challenge to our country. We have to redesign our infrastructure, create avenues of accessibility, acceptance of the limitations of specially abled and give them equal employment opportunities and vocational training.
We need more schools like APL Global where children of all kinds are treated at par, given equal opportunities and enjoy the mainstream education and sports. We need more employers like WORTH TRUST, RBS, Cognizant and IBM who give a sustainable employment opportunities to those who deserve...It is time, we look back and think forward.
Each one of us should take a pledge to work towards inclusion, towards a better society and towards a more inclusive India....
