#india Archives - Page 5 of 15

I don't know whether it happens with you or not but seldom do I fall short of words, writing an introduction of a person I interview. Kanchan Chauhan, a writer, poetess, disability activist, and the social worker left me speechless talking so passionately about the future of disability discourse in India. There is so much I wrote, there is so much I have kept to myself, there is so much between the lines, there is so much to give a thought about. Excerpts from the chat: “ Last month I went shopping in a renowned market in Hazratganj, Lucknow. I parked my car at the designated parking spot and I went shopping at different places. First a fall, there were barriers everywhere, I don't understand how we are supposed to move around with a wheelchair. There were no arrangements at popular marketplaces like Hazratganj. There are orders to make public places accessible. We are shown dreams of Accessible India and we were hopeful of our mobility. However, it is a distant dream. I have an attendant, I want you to note that I have an attendant. I come from a well-off family where I can afford an attendant. Not everybody has an attendant and a marketplace is for everybody, it should keep into mind the needs and requirements of everybody. I don't know how wheelchair users who don't have an attendant can roam around and shop in the market. Now let me narrate the incident to you with which you will get a glimpse of how the majority section of people treats people with disability in general.” “So I went to this Khadi store in Hazratganj to do my shopping. I asked them if they could get me some items from the first floor as I was in a wheelchair. In response to my request, they said that I should select something from the ground floor or send somebody to get the items from the first floor. I was deeply humiliated. Where every customer's request is given utmost priority, given my condition, why was my request not addressed? I said that customers should be accepted and I will buy from some other place but not here. And I called my driver to tell him to come outside Khadi Ashram. My driver parked the car outside Khadi Ashram and came inside the shop to pick me. Meanwhile, a media person came outside and started pointing out that people park recklessly in a marketplace without knowing the whole story. My friend tried explaining to him but it went in vain. When I got there I asked my friend “mujhe apni baat khud kehne de” “I told him that I followed all the rules and I parked my vehicle at the designated parking. Since I was done shopping, I asked my driver to pick me up. I asked myself what else I could have done? In response, he told me that I should have gone back to the parking lot in my wheelchair. And honestly, I wouldn't mind doing so. But you tell me, are there enough facilities provided for the mobility of a disabled person? Are the people around conscious enough to let me move comfortably from one end of ganj to the parking? Instead of questioning the concerned authorities for putting up a dedicated parking space for people with disability, you are questioning my attempt of mobility. You know where we go wrong. It is very easy to blame, but it takes up a lot of courage to ask the right questions to the right people.” “There are so many orders and judgments in regards to making public places, government places disabled-friendly, is anybody questioning the hostile attitude of authorities towards them? Or does anybody keep a record of that? No. It's all blank words. We are being tutored on our mobility. People with disabilities riding my tricycle or tri-motor vehicles are at the receiving end of it. We are raising questions about them. Is it where energy and mind should be directed? You question them when they break the laws and rules but first make sure that rules and laws for them are at place.” “I just want to say that a hassle-free space should be put into place for our movement. So that we can move without seeking help every time we step out. We want to avail our happiness and freedom.” How can society be sensitised? “Before sensitising people, I would request people to keep a check if their buildings, societies are compiled by the orders and laws. There should be strict laws for check and balance accessibility in our infrastructure.” “To sensitize the society the rules are pretty straight, people need to listen to our voices. “Mai apni baat keh rahi hoon, mai apni baat keh saku.” Aur yeh baat kisi madhyam se uss aadmi tak paunch jaye, jo apni baat keh toh nahi paaya, par kehna chahta tha. Meri baat usko himmat de, aur woh bhi apni baat bulandi se keh sake.” Discourse, debates, and dialogue are the few very traditional and effective ways of actually bringing some change in society. And undoubtedly, they stand true for sensitising people with disabilities as well as society in general as well. But it has to be consistent in our efforts.” The Power of Words “How did we learn about climate change or saving electricity or population control? We were made aware of it by continuously feeding us information and content through films, advertisements, etc. Efforts to make people aware about our needs, requirements countering the prejudice need no different strategy.” “Meri baat itni si hi hai, baar baar jab humare kaan mai yeh baat jayegi toh ek baar mai nahi , do baar mai nahi par kabhi kabhi na humare dimag yeh baat aayegi na.” “Like when we used to go out to watch movies and see the cancer advertisement, where Mukesh got cancer by consuming tobacco, so it is there somewhere in my mind that tobacco causes cancer. Any issues which are discussed regularly through dialogue and conference will grab the public eye. It may take a long time, but we will achieve success.” “A lot has changed. There were terms used to refer to disabled people, which are demeaning and humiliating. But today, people are a little conscious of using the terms. Not all, but there are people who think using such words refers to people. From the caste system to girls education, issues are addressed.” “A person with disability may experience inferiority complex if he has not worked enough on himself or herself, even if he is confident and all the riches and luxury will still have a little complex. If an abled person with everything as we say can go into depression, imagine a disabled person who is constantly bogged down by the whole society. What will be their state of mind?” “So, I am hopeful, the process may be slow but we will definitely achieve it. Until that time I and the community can fight for our rights. And this torch will be forwarded to the next generation. All that we say and promise to our people in conferences outside in foreign will one day come true in India also. We will fight for it.”

SocioTab

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