RECOGNISING
ABILITY IN THE DISABILITY
Prem
Kumar*
A quiet revolution
in the national Capital has begun to bring about public sensitivity
towards the disabled in India. It is to emphasise the fact that
those whom we consider disabled are actually able in other aspects.
In fact, many of them possess exceptional skills and abilities
and if given a chance can do wonders. To demonstrate this fact,
New Delhi is hosting a mega event, International Abilympics -
competition of the skills of the disabled for the first time in
the country from November 23rd to 29th, 2003. It will be inaugurated
by the Prime Minister, Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee at the Indira
Gandhi Indoor Stadium on November 24, 2003.
The Capital is
preparing for the event in a big way. Barrier-free facilities
are being created for about 2,000 participants from India and
32 other countries who will compete for honours in various vocational
and other skills. The Indira Gandhi Stadium is being revamped
with barrier-free ramps, pathways and toilets. Several hotels
in the city are also being prepared with barrier-free living conditions
where the participants and their escorts will stay during the
weeklong programme. Entrance to lifts, rooms and other areas is
being made disabled-friendly. Special buses with hydraulic lifts
and wheel chair locking systems have been acquired for their transportation.The
places that will be visited by them during their stay in Delhi
are being made disabled-friendly.
Hundreds of volunteers
- escorts, receptionists, information executives, first-aid staff,
medical personnel, security persons, guides and helpers in events,
event organisers and sponsors are going through a hectic schedule
of orientation and training to make their stay in Delhi as comfortable
as possible. A committee of secretaries to the Central Government,
headed by the Cabinet Secretary, is supervising the arrangements.
A number of government and non-government organisations along
with corporate units are collaborating with the National Abilympics
Association of India (NAAI) to make it a memorable event.
While all this
is being done, the most desired impact of the event is to make
people sensitive about the needs and sentiments of the disabled
whose number is among the highest in this country. The very idea
of barrier-free access to them in public places has been a long-felt
need in the country but there had been a very little progress
in this direction despite motivation from the government and non-governmental
agencies. The effort in this direction is bound to get a big boost
with the Abilympics. Even the employers in the country will better
appreciate the abilities and skills of the disabled so as to offer
them greater opportunities in life. To quote Prime Minister Vajpayee,
"The disabled in any society deserve our respect and not
our pity and charity. They are entitled to their own space".
As part of the
same mission, an exhibition of aides for the disabled is being
organised on the occasion where fabricators from different countries
will be displaying their products. India will also be participating
in the exhibition through display of aided appliances and assistance
to the disabled through science and technology.
A special feature
of the weeklong programme will be setting up of an Abilympic Village
to showcase India’s handicrafts and arts. It will have puppet
shows and other cultural programmes, cyber café, souvenir
shop and the disabled craftsmen demonstrating their skill. A conference
will be organised at the venue to discuss problems and issues
concerning the disabled. Experts from all over the world will
present papers and participate in the discussions.
That India will
have a strong representation in the event is obvious from the
fact that it has been preparing for it for the last two years.
Regional Abilympics were held in four different zones in 2001
followed by National Abilympics last year. They helped identify
potential competitors in the international event. Training facilities
were also arranged in different parts of the country to improve
their skills so as to come up to international standards.
The Indian talent
was recognised at the last Abilympics held at Prague where only
16-member team participated from India and won three gold medals,
three bronze and a certificate of merit. The team had impressed
organisers and participants from other countries and it went a
long way in convincing the International Federation of India’s
capacity to host this year’s event.
The first International
Abilympics was held in 1981 in Japan in consonance with the United
Nations International Year of Disabled Persons. The subsequent
Abilympics were held in Colombia, Hong Kong, Australia and Czech
Republic. Coined from the words Ability and Olympics, Abilympics
is not a sports event but a competition of vocational skills for
people with disabilities. On this occasion, ability rather than
disability is in focus. It also provides an opportunity to participants
to be exposed to the latest technology in job oriented skills
and a chance to industry and other employers an idea of what the
disabled can do. (PIB Features)
*Former
Editor, Indian Express, Chandigarh
