The CNN IBN Poll of August 5th- A rude reminder of reality

91% of the elite educated viewers of CNN IBN who watched the channel and voted on the 5th of August believed that "Disabled people are a burden in India". This indeed is a shocking reminder of a stark reality that we often tend to gloss over.

Even today, majority of the people perceive persons with disability as lesser beings, inspite of several persons with disability are working and performing today admirably well in the public domain. We have successful lawyers, corporate executives, business people, academicians, media persons, software professionals and so on. I guess the challenge has just begun.

The other day I had met with Mr.Jyotiraditya Scindia to explore the possibility of "eyeway.org partnering with the hundred thousand CSCs (Common Service Centres) that the Ministry of IT proposes to setup to disseminate information to the rural masses. I feltthat these CSCs could become a very effective communication network to reach out to the millions of visually impaired persons living in rural India. The Minister was very positive, he told me that someone from his team would get in touch. Yes, someone did get in touch asking for information on Score Foundation and eyeway.org. However, the revealing question they asked was, "Could you share the names and addresses of the Ophthalmologists who help Project Eyeway with the research and information gathering process". This was indeed revealing. It reflects a mindset that believes that ( Disability is a disease and it needs to be fixed". The most knowledgeable authorities on disability such as blindness are Ophthalmologists. "Indeed"

The World has moved onto a Social model of disability where we talk of moving on with life, inclusion , rights and so on, while it is shocking to learn that our powerful Officialdom are still talking about fixing the disability. How about the millions of us for whom doctors cannot do a thing? A genuine "mindset" issue.

Further, I think it is high time we raised our voices against the "rotton word charity". Each one of us are citizens of this country and have a right to have access to everything that goes on in this Nation. Why should education for us be a charity or a noble act? Shouldnt we have been included in the system automatically. Should not outfits like NCERT be producing text books and learning material in Braille, E-text or in the audio format as a matter of routine? Why should providing jobs for us be considered as part of CSR? Why should "dealing with disability" only be the responsibility of the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment"? Should it not be on the agenda of every Ministry and all the State Governments? Why should we be seen as either "Heroes or as Zeroes"? Are we not ordinary human beings who need to get a move on in life?

I am certainly not saying anything new. All I am saying is that we have a long way to go and all of us have a responsibility to change the mindsets of the people of the cuntry. If the so called elite educated believe that we are a burden, then what to speak of the common man on the street. We have a fight on our hands and we need to take on this fight head on. I am not suggesting aggression , dharnas or burning of public property. I am simply saying that each one of us have to strive to become agents of change.

What are some of the ways that we can proceed? Well I could share some thoughts.

1. Excel in whatever we are doing. Strive to become the best.
2. Move out into the society/community and make friends, socialise. Let people experience friendships with persons with disability.
3. Increase our knowledge base and participate in discussions on issues other than disability in the public domain.
4. Start becoming contributors


There could be many other things that we could do.

Your views and comments that could take this discussion forward are welcome.

Besides, we would be happy to offer eyeway as a platform to reach out to the mainstream. You could share information, experiences with us and with could take it to the World.
Thanks and anticipation.

George Abraham