Maharashtra State Policy for Persons with Disabilities: 3% of budget, yoga for children, says Draft policy

27.04.2017
The state is yet to implement the policy and is presently seeking suggestions and objections from experts before it formalises it.

The Maharashtra government has come up with a new draft policy for persons with disabilities which envisages earmarking three per cent of its total budget and using yoga to ensure development of differently abled children.

The policy also proposes compulsory enrolment of certain disabled children in conventional schools to facilitate their integration into society and also calls for every school to have at least one specialised teacher for children with disabilities. The draft policy — Maharashtra State Policy for Persons with Disabilities — prepared by the state social justice department comes nearly six months after the Lok Sabha passed a disabilities bill that stipulates punishment for those who discriminate against the disabled.

The vision statement of the draft policy says the aim is to create an effective multi-sectoral coordination among concerned government agencies to ensure early detection, inclusion in education, skill building and appropriate employment, social mainstreaming and legal capacity for all the disabled, who are referred to as “divyangjans” in the policy document.

The policy states that as prevention of post-natal development delays is the key to reduce incidence of disability cases among new born, the state will create awareness campaigns to encourage pregnant and lactating women to avail institutional delivery facility, claim Rs 6,000 under Pradhan Mantri Surakshit Matritva Yojana, and avail free supply of vitamin supplements and immunisation by government PHCs.

The state will also support the development of indigenous screening and diagnostic tools to avoid incidence of disability. “Necessary surgical interventions and implants wherever recommended by medical authorities shall be facilitated by the state using Government of India subsidy and state contribution and local bodies funds from 3 per cent budgetary allocation,” the draft policy states.

The draft policy says it will promote time-tested practices, including yoga, dance and movement with music to ensure development of motor, social, and cognitive skills of children with disabilities.

“The District Collector, CEO Zilla Parishad, Municipal Commissioner and chief officers of local bodies will provide 3 per cent budgetary allocation in new District Planning and Development Committee (DPDC) schemes, for this purpose. The state will also endeavour to spend increasing amount on this component, realising that small fund allocated at this stage can in fact save a lot of public expenditure at later stage and also ensure better integration of the divyangjan,” according to the draft.

The policy aims to give priority to inclusive education for divyangjan children and only those with high support needs in terms of cognitive, behavioural or neuro disability shall be catered for special education. The Education department will work towards ensuring that children with disability do not face any discrimination and barriers in the school for which measures to sensitise fellow students, teachers and school administrators will be initiated, the draft policy says while specifying that each school should have at least one special education teacher for exclusive support of divyangjan students.

There is also a mention of inclusive education where children with and without disabilities participate and learn together in the same classes

“The state will encourage inclusive education of children who have visually impairment (including low-vision), hearing impairment, loco-motor disability, mild intellectual disability, high functioning autism, slow learning ability, learning disability, and high functioning cerebral palsy in order to build their competencies and provide equal scholastic opportunities,” the policy states. Besides, Intellectually Disabled, Autism and Multiple Disabled and children with high support needs will continue to receive special education that would emphasise on building their proficiency on activities of daily needs, working on their behavioural and emotional needs, personal mobility and community support.

It also states that special schools will be encouraged to provide pre-school training to students for inclusion in mainstream schools especially in the case of blind, hearing impaired and neuro development disabilities and their performance will be judged and evaluated on the basis of how many number of students have integrated successfully for inclusive education.

The state is yet to implement the policy and is presently seeking suggestions and objections from experts before it formalises it.

Delhi HC seeks report on missing speech, hearing impaired woman

New Delhi, April 26 (IANS) The Delhi High Court on Wednesday took suo motu cognizance of a media report which said that a 21-year-old speech and hearing impaired woman has been missing from Adarsh Nagar Metro Station here since April 21.

A division bench of Justice Vipin Sanghi and Justice Deepa Sharma sought status report from the Delhi Police on the issue.

According to the news report, while travelling in the Delhi Metro on April 21, the woman was unable to get out of the train at Jahangirpuri station, while her mother and sister deboarded.

A Delhi Metro official had said that a team was constituted to look into the case. The team would also scan through the video footage of CCTV cameras installed inside the stations, he said.

Later, in one of the video footages, the woman was seen coming out at the next Metro station, Adarsh Nagar.

The incident came to light on the evening of April 21 when the mother approached the Metro Police Station. The incident had taken place in the afternoon.

College for deaf to have graphic design course

26.04.2017

LUCKNOW: In a first, an exclusive College for Deaf is being established at the Shakuntala Misra Rehabilitation University .The institute, a first in Northern India, is aimed at empowerment and mainstreaming of hearing impaired students through augumenting their creativity with special clout of professional education and skill development.

The college will offer three-year Bachelor of Vocation in Graphics and Animation Designing, and will have multiple exit levels. The first exit level is after six months and any student who quits will be awarded a certificate.In the second level of exit, which is after one year, students will be given a diploma, while at the third exit point, after two years, students will be given an advanced diploma. Those completing the course will be awarded a degree. "The idea is to raise employability of students with hearing impairment by pro viding education and training," said A P Tiwari, university spoesperson.

The construction of college building, said university authorities is already in progress and classes will most likely, start functioning from academic session 2017-18. For establishment of the college, the department of empowerment of persons with disabilities (under the Union ministry of social justice and empowerment) has allocated Rs 2.50 crore while a matching grant of Rs 2.61 crore has been allocated by Uttar Pradesh's handicaaped welfare department (Viklang Shashatikaran). The grant was meant for purchase of aids equipment and financial assistance in the form of grant in aids to reimburse the cost incurred by the college towards payment of salaries and allowances.

The BVoc programme will have two components--general education and skill development--which will constitute 40% and 60% of the course, respectively. The university's executive council, the apex body for administrative and academic decisions, has approved the proposal for creation of faculty posts for the College for Deaf.

The hearing impaired students attain education only till classes VIII or X because of their disability to communicate. The SMRU provides platform to such students to pursue a pre-degree course which is equivalent to class XII. Here, all students, including the hearing and visually impaired study along with the able-bodied. Inside each classroom, an interpretor is available to provide education in sign language for the hearing impaired. "Once a student finishes this pre-degree, heshe can be enrolled into the BVoc programme which will primarily focus on making them creative," Tiwari said.

தேசிய காது கேளாதோர் கூடைப் பந்து போட்டி

Hearing impairment is no hurdle for Jerlin Anika as she braves challenges to qualify for the upcoming Summer Deaflympics badminton event in Turkey

20.04.2017
Jerlin Anika is just 13. But her achievements defy her age. In a recently concluded badminton tournament in Hyderabad, she emerged the national champion competing against much experienced normal contestants. Her kitty is now filled with State and national medals and this had helped her to qualify for the Deaflympics badminton event in Samsun, Turkey in July.

“We never saw her as a child with hearing and speech impairment. We treated her as any other normal child and it gave her enormous confidence to succeed,” says J Jeya Ratchagan, her father.

For her, nothing is impossible when it comes to badminton. Initially she had some difficulties. “But for her coach T Saravanan, Anika would not come this far. When I had doubts, he had the confidence in her,” says Jeya Ratchagan, who runs a small plastic bag manufacturing unit.

Anika is differently-abled but her amazing concentration and temperament attracted her fellow players and coach. “Her impairment has worked to her advantage. When she enters the court, her focus is only on badminton. No distraction and the killer instinct to succeed have helped her to achieve,” says Saravanan.

She was diagnosed with hearing impairment at the age of two and from then on her parents strived to find a remedy. Jeya Ratchagan put her in the lip reading class at the school for hearing impaired and that helped her to understand what people spoke. A chance visit to the badminton court in Villapuram, altered her life. Looking at the girl’s interest in the game, Saravanan admitted her in his stable and started teaching the nuances of the game. “Generally, people feel it is difficult to handle special children. But I think it is a joy to work with them because they are keen observers and follow every rule and trick of the game without hesitation,” says Saravanan.

Anika’s rise to stardom has been gradual. Though she won her inaugural match which was against a tough component in under-10 state-level tournament in Sivakasi, Anika missed a few games after that. “I stepped in to correct her moves and now she understands and remembers not only her errors and points but even her rival’s,” says the coach.

The Federation of India School Games 2016 was the turning point in her life. Anika, studying in class IX in St.Joseph’s Girls Higher Secondary School went through strenuous selection trials to qualify for the main event and overcame tough resistance to bag the silver medal in the under-13 category. The medal-winning performance gave her the confidence to power through a national-level tournament and she finished third in the competition for normal children.

Jeya Ratchagan came to know about the Deaflympics through physically challenged athletic coach Ranjith Kumar who guided him to approach the State association for hearing impaired. From there he was put in touch with Sharma Souni, the national badminton coach for the Deaflympics bound Indian team.

Anika was asked to take part in a championship for the hearing impaired in Jamshedpur, where she came out with flying colours. She won the gold medal in both the team and individual events and spearheaded the Tamil Nadu team to finish on top. “She was immediately selected for the Turkey tournament,” says the happy father. As medals and honours came her way, Anika had to continue to participate in several tournaments to keep her active in the badminton circuit. Manufacturer of automotive belts, JK Fenner, came forward to help her financially when she was on the look out for a Good Samaritan to fund her trip to Turkey.

Anika puts in 10 hours of practice daily. “Her agility, minimum unforced errors, attacking shots and splendid court coverage will help her in good stead,” says her hopeful coach.

Amid cheers, disabled couple walks down the aisle

21.04.2017 Mahbubnagar: 

A deaf and dumb bridegroom and a polio-affected bride were united in wedlock at a function held at Anjaneyaswamy temple in Shaikpalli village of Hanwada mandal in the district on Thursday, thanks to the combined efforts of villagers and mandal revenue employees.

The bride is Yedla Lakshmi of Shaikpalli, whose one hand and leg were affected with polio. Her father died when he accidentally fell into an agricultural well. Her mother committed suicide because of family problems. Her only brother deserted her and left her to the care of their uncle and settled down in Hyderabad. She owns one acre of land.

Her maternal uncle Ramulu and aunt Chennamma are taking care of the girl. She is supporting herself with the meager Rs 1,500 per month pension being paid to her by the State government.

The bridegroom – Gangaram Narsimhulu — also hails from the same village. He is deaf and dumb. His father was murdered by his cousins. Later, his mother died of illness. His maternal uncle Basappa and aunt Anjilamma are taking care of him at Desaipalli in Gandeed mandal for fear of the rivals attacking him.

He also receives Rs 1,500 per month towards pension paid by the State government. He owns six acres of land. Shaikpalli sarpanch Srinivas, MPTC Raghu and some other villagers thought of uniting them in wedlock. The prospective bride and groom gave their consent and so did their relatives. The village elders urged Tahsildar Jyoti to give benefit to the couple under Kalyana Lakshmi. She immediately consented.

The Mandal Revenue employees pooled money and arranged mangalsutra and took care of the lunch expenses for around 600 guests. Residents of Shaikpalli, too, collected funds to provide food to the guests attending the marriage.

Everyone participated in the wedding ceremony as though it was their family function. Overwhelmed at the love and affection showered on the couple, the bride and bridegroom turned emotional with tears rolling down their cheeks.

District Collector Ronald Rose personally visited the marriage venue and blessed the couple. Hanwada Tahsildar Jyoti said the Revenue Department employees got involved in the wedding since it was a novel programme.

She felt happy at the prospect of uniting the physically challenged in a marriage. She said that all steps would be initiated to get the couple benefited under the Kalyana Lakshmi.

Village sarpanch Srinivasulu said the whole village celebrated the marriage treating Lakshmi as their sister.

திருச்சியில் காதுகேளாதோர் & வாய் பேச இயலாதோருக்குகான மாபெரும் இலவச பொது மருத்துவ முகாம்

SEE TO VIDEO HERE ⬇⬇⬇ 

காதுகேளாதோர் & வாய் பேச இயலாதோருக்குகான மாபெரும் இலவச பொது மருத்துவ முகாம்

National IT Competition for Youth with Disabilities 2017

Selection of Youth with Disabilities (Age between 13 -19 yrs) for National IT Competition.

This year the Global IT Challenge (GITC) for Youth with Disabilities will be held during September, 2017 in Hanoi, Vietnam. The event is meant for four categories of Youth with Disabilities i.e in the categories of visual impairment, hearing impairment, physical impairment (locomotor) and intellectual /development disorder in the age group 13-19 years. Govt. of India has been requested by the organizer i.e Korean Society for Rehabilitation of Person with Disabilities (KSRPD) to nominate one youth with disability from each of the above categories to participate in the GITC 2017 in Vietnam. The required expenditure towards to and fro air ticket and lodging boarding will be borne by the organizer for participating in GITC 2017.

With a view to finalize nomination of Govt of India to participate in the above event, applications are hereby invited from the prospective Youth with Disabilities in the age group of 13 – 19 yrs from the following four categories –

• Visual Impairment
• Hearing impairment
• Physical impairment (locomotor)
• Intellectual /development disorder

ELIGIBILITY FOR PARTICIPATION IN THE NOMINATION PROCESS ARE:

1. Must be in the age group of 13 -19 yrs in the above four categories
2. Must be able to work with Internet Explorer web browser, MS Office and Scratch Programmes
3. Must be able to communicate in English.

On receiving applications, the department will conduct a National IT competition to select the suitable nomination to represent India in the GITC 2016. The competition will be done on the following areas –

• Local individual education- e-Learning mentoring training

Content : Understanding of information including IT Understanding of the competition subjects and utilization e-Tool Challenge, e-Life Map Challenge, e-Design Challenge, e-Creative Challenge

• IT Paralympiad- e-Tool Challenge: development assessment; e-Life Map Challenge: individual assessment; e-Design Challenge: group assessment and e- Creative Challenge: group assessment

The venue and the details of the National Competition will be intimated to eligible applicants separately. For participating in the National Competition the applicant shall have to bear the expenditure for their travel. The department will make arrangement for their lodging and boarding along with one escort during their stay at the centre where National competition will be held.

Interested Youth with Disabilities fulfilling above criteria may send their application in prescribed format (Annex –I) to

The Director,
Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities,
Room No – 518, Antyodaya Bhawan,
CGO Complex, New Delhi

or email to kvs.rao13@nic.in latest by 20th May 2016.

⬇⬇⬇
Download Application (DOC, 128KB)

Commission wants Aadhar cards for disabled children

18.04.2017
DEHRADUN: The Uttarakhand State Commission for Protection of Child Rights (SCPCR), on Monday, directed the chief secretary to make Aadhar cards for all the mentally challenged, deaf and dumb and handicapped children of the state on a priority basis. SCPR officials said that the move was necessary in order to safeguard children from human trafficking.

"There are rising cases of unclaimed orphan mentally/physically challenged children being seen on the streets. They are one of the most susceptible group of people in our society who can be exploited for forced organ donation or into human/body trafficking. Therefore, it is important to have all their details so that they can be handed over to their parents, in case if they fail to give some identity proof when lost," said Yogendera Khanduri chairperson of SCPCR, Uttarakhand.

Officials of the commission has cited an urgency to make Aadhar mandatory for disabled children here even as the Centre has already began registration of disabled persons in 13 states, excluding Uttarakhand, for issuing Unique Disabled Identity (UDID) cards. The UDID cards are meant to be used as legal documents and for easy linkage to governement's schemes and services.

According to the central government data on disability in Uttarakhand, the state has a staggering 1.85 lakh disabled persons. The state social welfare department, however, does not have any concrete data on the number of disabled people even though it gives out pension to over thousands every year. "We have data of only those who have come to us voluntarily to receive pension," said a senior official of the social welfare department, who did not wish to be named.

"We are yet to begin the process of biometric data for children from 0-5 years of age in the state," said Manoj Chandran, additional secretary, state social welfare department.

Meanwhile, V S Budhiyal, additional district magistrate, Dehradun, said, "Categorisations for Aadhar cards will not be made on the basis of disabilities."

The social welfare department had, in April 2016, begun the process of implementing the Beggars (Empowerment, Skill Development and Rehabilitation) Bill, 2014. In the first phase, four districts — Dehradun, Udham Singh Nagar, Nainital and Haridwar — were slated to be covered because of their high population density and rising incidents of begging, especially among children.

As per officials of the social welfare department, the project is being implemented with an objective of locating the parents of these children, as most of them are trafficked, and rehabilitating those who are orphans or physically disabled. The Act however is strictly only in Haridwar.

Disabled people need not stand for national anthem, says Supreme Court

18.04.2017
The Supreme Court today exempted disabled persons from standing during playing of the national anthem before screening of a film.

The disabled category includes people suffering from cerebral palsy, Parkinson disease, muscular dystrophy and other categories of disability.

"Having heard learned counsel for the parties, we are inclined to modify the orders and direct that the persons who are wheel chair users, those with autism, persons suffering from cerebral palsy, multiple disabilities, Parkinson's disease, multiple sclerosis, leprosy cured, muscular dystrophy and deaf and blind be treated not to be within the ambit of the orders passed by this Court. As far as the other categories, which we have not referred to mentioned in the application, are concerned, the same may be considered by the Union of India", said the Bench.

The Centre had earlier submitted before the court that the home ministry on the directions of the court has issued guidelines on how people with disabilities can show respect when the national anthem is being played in movie halls or public functions, saying they should not move and position themselves "maintaining the maximum possible alertness physically".

In November the apex court had made it mandatory to play national anthem in movie halls before every screening with the image of the national flag displayed on the screen. Delivering the order, the SC had observed that standing up for the national anthem in movie halls will "instill a sense of committed patriotism and nationalism" in people's minds.

It had later clarified people need not stand up if the national anthem was played as part of the film.

The verdict had however resulted in cases of disabled people being attacked by fellow moviegoers for not standing up for the national anthem. In a number of cases, people with disabilities and those with small children and elderly people also faced the wrath of the people trying to enforce patriotism.

Meanwhile, the SC also issued a notice to the Centre on Tuesday over a plea that sought to make the singing of 'Vande Mataram' essential in all educational institutions. The court has asked the Central government to respond to the plea within four weeks.

Merit Based Education for Students with disabilities with Full Scholarship

Ability foundation and Sathyabama University offer merit based admission to 50 students with disabilities for the year 2017.

Course : B.E, B.tech, B.Com and MBA

• Full scholarship covering tuition and hostel fees
• Study environment suited to one’s disability
• Accessible Hostel facilities

Avail of this great opportunity

Completed forms must reach Ability Foundation, on or before, Friday 19th May 2017.

Download Application Forms:

• For B.E, B.Tech, B.Com and B.SC -viscom (DOC, 129KB)
• For MBA (Doc, 85KB)

For more information e-mail
varsity@abilityfoundation.org

Administrative Office:
Ability Foundation, New No.4, Old No.23, Third Cross Street,
Radhakrishnan Nagar, Thiruvanmiyur
Chennai – 600 041, India.

Telephone Numbers:
91 44 2452 0016

Accessible Adventure Tour to Rishikesh for Persons with Disabilities

Date: 05th May, 2017 – 07th May, 2017
Tour Location : Rishikesh, Uttarakhand | India.

Before the season goes off, PlantAbled Bring you the rafting tour again on popular demand. Don’t miss out this time.

• Completely Assisted and Accessible
• Accompanied by A Sign Language interpreter
• Open for People of all Disabilities and customized Accordingly
• Join in alone or with Friends/Family and even pets.

Wherever you are in the Country, Adventure is not for Away.

Contact PlanetAbled Now – 9910042281 or travel@planetabled.com

Contact Details:
Planet Abled
A first of its kind unique travel sojourn of the planet where people of all disabilities and without disabilities travel together.
Tel:+91 9910042281
E-mail: travel@planetabled.com

Aadhaar helps lost deaf & mute boy find kin

14.04.2017

VADODARA/RAJPIPLA: Had it not been for his Aadhar card enrolment, 12-year-old Sanjay Nagnath Yenkur would have never found his way back home in Maharashtra's Latur district.

Sanjay, a speech-and-hearing impaired orphan had left his village Henchal in 2014 after a fight with his brother Vijay, and somehow ended up in Gujarat, around 800 km away from his home.

The brothers had lost their parents in 2011, and were under the guardianship of their maternal aunt Sangmaben Manekrao Gante.

On March 22 last year, the Vadodara railway police found Sanjay, then 11, loitering alone in the railway station. Efforts to locate his family proved futile as he could not communicate. He was sent to the government-run deaf and mute residential school run by Bal Suraksha Ayog at Rajpipla in Gujarat's Narmada district. Chetan Parmar, Narmada district child protection officer said, "We tried to get some clue or information from him about his home but in vain. So, we decided to name him Aakash and admitted him in class II."

Sanjay was finally identified in January 2017 when a mandatory Aadhaar enrolment camp was organised in his school. All the students underwent fingerprint and retina scans, and were successfully registered with the UIDAI server, but Aakash's registration could not go through. On checking the Aadhaar website, it came to light that his details duplicated, as he already had enrolled for an Aadhaaar card in 2011 under the name of Sanjay Nagnath Yenkur.

"We approached our counterparts in Latur district and asked them to verify these credentials," said Parmar, adding that authorities informed Sanjay's caretaker of his whereabouts after the revelation.

Tamannaah to play deaf, mute in new film

Mumbai, April 14 (IANS) Actress Tamannaah Bhatia, who is all geared up for the release of her upcoming magnum-opus “Baahubali 2”, reveled that her next is with Vashu Bhagnani where she plays a deaf and dumb’s character.

“‘Baahubali’ helped me to realise that people want me to do different characters like now I have shot for a film in which I play a deaf and mute girl, gone completely sans make-up. It is a Hindi film produced by Vashu Bhagnani sir,” Tamannaah said during an interview on Thursday.

“I am also collaborating with Prabhu (Prabhudeva) sir again, but in a completely different framework. So, it would be very interesting for audience, who have seen us before, to watch us in completely different characters and framework,” added Tamannaah who was last seen with Prabhudeva and Sonu Sood in “Tutak Tutak Tutiya”.

Talking about the success of “Baahubali”, Tamannaah proudly said: “We have always looked upon Hollywood superheroes like Super-Man and Spider-man but ‘Baahubali’ is our own Indian Superhero and the connection people have made with this franchise is unprecedented.”

Asked about the re-release of the first part into theatres, she said: “It’s an honour for any actor to say that their movie is re-released after two years. I am happy that people are supporting the format of having the movie in two parts and that’s what makes it interesting. This will encourage other movie makers to make films in parts.”

While all other characters remain the same, Anushka Shetty will be seen in a new avatar in this movie. Asked about her experience of working with Anushka, Tamannaah said: “I have known her since the beginning of my career. She is the one who helped me in the beginning of my career. I wanted a costume designer and she helped me with it. She has actually enjoyed the five most peak years of her career in this film, which is a lot for a mainstream actress like her.”

What was the most interesting part in shooting the biggest blockbuster of Indian cinema? Tamannaah said: “I did a fullfledged action in a movie for the first time in my career. I had a lot of fear of height but ‘Baahubali’ has helped me overcome it.”

“Baahubali 2 – The Conclusion” that will finally answer the most awaited answer as to Why Kattapa Killed Baahubali will hit the screens on April 28.

The film is directed by S.S. Rajmouli with Prabhas, Rana Daggubati, Anushka Shetty, Tamannaah, Ramya Krishnan, Nassar and Satyaraj in pivotal roles.

Tamilnadu Postal Circle Recruitment 2017 Gramin Dak Sevaks (128 Vacancies)

Tamilnadu Postal Circle has published Recruitment notification for the posts of Gramin Dak Sevaks in the TN Circle. The last date for submission of online applications is 9th May 2017.

CLCIK HERE ON LINE ⬇⬇⬇

http://www.appost.in/gdsonline/

‘Local trains serve as important social space for hearing impaired’

12.04.2017

Summary: In Mumbai, the movements of such people are planned “from above” in that they follow train schedules and use existing infrastructure. There is a combination of punctuality through clock time (train schedules) and fluid coordination through mobile phones. The diversity of people meeting in trains is high, with regard to gender, age, religion, caste and class. Mobile phones are used to coordinate meetings in the trains and stations, and to spread information on events, which are typically travelled to by train and further discussed in the trains. The article focuses on the bonds created between Mumbai’s hearing-impaired people who travel in compartments reserved for disabled people, chatting and exchanging news and information.
In order to create “deaf spaces”, where “deaf sociality” and sign-language use are the organising principles, hearing-impaired people strategically board particular trains and particular compartments, and sometimes remain in the train beyond their original destination, according to a paper published in the Journal of Cultural Geography. The article focuses on the bonds created between Mumbai’s hearing-impaired people who travel in compartments reserved for disabled people, chatting and exchanging news and information. Mobile phones are used to coordinate meetings in the trains and stations, and to spread information on events, which are typically travelled to by train and further discussed in the trains. The diversity of people meeting in trains is high, with regard to gender, age, religion, caste and class. In Mumbai, the movements of such people are planned “from above” in that they follow train schedules and use existing infrastructure. At the same time, and equally important, mobilities are staged, performed and lived “from below”: hearing-impaired people board particular trains or compartments for the disabled depending on time of the day, the destination, distance from foot overbridge at origin/destination, and desire to meet or rather avoid (particular) people. There is a combination of punctuality through clock time (train schedules) and fluid coordination through mobile phones.

Because these compartments provide a diverse range of deaf people a space for daily meetings on the way to and from their workplaces and families; they are very important spaces to maintain and expand networks in the wider Mumbai deaf community, the paper states.

Tennis champion aims high

Championship material: Hearing-impaired tennis player Jafreen Shaik
who won the National championship and qualified for the Deaf Olympics
to be held this July

12.04.2017
Player from Sania Mirza Tennis Academy qualifies for Deaf Olympics
For Jafreen Shaikh, the hearing-impaired tennis player from the Sania Mirza Tennis Academy, it was another feat which should spur her to dream bigger and work harder to leave an impact in the world of tennis.

The India No. 1 in her category, Jafreen, won the singles gold in the just-concluded National Games for the Deaf tennis competition in Chennai which also meant she has qualified for the Deaf Olympics to be held in Turkey in July this year. The other girl from India who made it to the same games is from Uttar Pradesh.

This young achiever’s creditable performances include gold in the Slovenia World Deaf Championship in doubles partnering Parul Gupta of Punjab and silver in singles last year.

Passion for tennis

It is the passion for the sport which made her father , an advocate by profession, to shift his base from Kurnool to Hyderabad and let his daughter pursue tennis. And, when struggling to find ways to meet her minimum needs, six-time Grand Slam winner Sania Mirza not only roped Jafreen into her Academy but also has been a huge source of inspiration to her. The 20-year-old Jafreen, who was the captain of the Indian team that took part in the world championship for the hearing-impaired, had to pull out in the past for want of financial support.

Financial crunch

Destiny was really cruel to Jafreen as she also had to miss out the huge opportunity of playing the 2012 London Paralympics for which she qualified but could not make it because of financial crunch.

Significantly, Jafreen will be flying to China after completing her Degree second year exams this month-end for an intensive, two-month training programme under the tutelage of Croatian Domogog Juric. In fact, she was with him early this year for a few weeks of focussed training. “Yes, the goal is to win gold in the Deaf Olympics and I am determined to make it and I must thank all the coaches and the SMTA for their wonderful support over the years,” says a grateful Jafreen.

வாய் பேச முடியாத மாற்றுத்திறனாளி பெண்ணை பலாத்காரம் செய்தவர் கைது

03.04.2017, கண்ணமங்கலம்: 

திருவண்ணாமலை மாவட்டம், கண்ணமங்கலம் அருகே கல்குப்பம் கிராமத்தை சேர்ந்தவர் யோகேஸ்வரி, 22, வாய் பேச முடியாதவர். கடந்த, 2012 டிச., 23ல், வீட்டில் தனியாக இருந்தபோது, அதே பகுதியை சேர்ந்த கோபால், 35, என்பவர், வீட்டுக்குள் புகுந்து அவரை பலாத்காரம் செய்துவிட்டு தலைமறைவாகி விட்டார். இதுகுறித்து, கண்ணமங்கலம் போலீசார் வழக்குப் பதிவு செய்து, தலைமறைவான கோபாலை தேடி வந்தனர். இந்நிலையில், கண்ணமங்கலம் போலீசார், நேற்று கொளத்தூர் பகுதியில் ரோந்து சென்றனர். அப்போது பஸ் நிறுத்தத்தில் சந்தேகப்படும்படி நின்று கொண்டிருந்த ஒருவரை பிடித்து விசாரித்தனர். அதில் அவர், மாற்றுத்திறனாளி யோகேஸ்வரியை பலாத்காரம் செய்த கோபால் என்பது தெரியவந்தது. இதையடுத்து, கோபாலை போலீசார் கைது செய்தனர்

One for all: Bengaluru signs up to communicate with the hearing-impaired

10.04.2017
HIGHLIGHTS

• A group has been organising sessions for people to learn the sign language of the people having hearing disability
• The group, FingerChats, is aims at forming a standard language for making the world easier to live in for the hearing-challenged

BENGALURU: A group, called FingerChats, has been organising sessions in Cubbon Park wherein people with no hearing disabilities come together to learn the sign language commonly used by those with hearing impairment.

The idea is simple - to form a standard language for making this world an easier place to live in for the hearing-challenged.

Sanjana Rangan, a software engineer, who is also the principal coordinator of the group, has an apt method to the best way to learn any language: "The best way to learn a language is through the native speaker. It's just like a North Indian coming to the South and learning the language from someone who already knows and speaks it.

Similarly, FingerChats aims at recreating the learning process with the people who have lived through the struggles of the disability."

It all started for Sanjana when she was shopping at a clothing retail shop and came across a salesman who could not hear. According to her, he was trying his best to communicate. "I felt really awful! I wanted to talk to him but there was no way that I could. And then I thought 'If he can try to fit in, why can't I do my part?'," she said.

Sanjana's story is similar to that of how the organisation came into the picture. Subhadra, an analyst, who is a core volunteer of the group, said, "The idea of FingerChats came along when we met a group of hearing impaired people who wanted to dance at a social event but could not communicate it well to the authorities concerned. A group of us wanted to do something about it, and we formed a sign language booth where people could drop in to learn sign language. In this process, something surprising happened. We had a lot of hearing-challenged who came forward to teach the signs to the people with no disability. And that's when we knew, these people really want to fit into our world. Thus, the sessions began."

As a core volunteer of the group, she realised that the hearing-challenged do not want sympathy or rehabilitation programmes. They want to be treated as equals.
Subhadra narrated an incident wherein she was able to help a hearing-challenge person and make him feel comfortable: "I spoke to him just like I am talking to you - with the same zeal and interest. I could talk to him using signs for about 10 minutes without having any awkward moment. While I was leaving, he said through sign language and with a broad smile, 'Thanks for treating me like a normal person!'." Rajesh, a resident of Koramangala was there because he wanted to learn a new language. "Isn't it just a new language? If we can learn regional languages then why can't we learn this?" he said.

The modus operandi

To begin with, the core members facilitate interaction between the volunteers and the hearing-challenged. This is where the hearing-challenged use their expressions to communicate. The next level is where volunteers learn all the alphabets in signs. When that's done, the volunteers learn how to use common phrases and greeting words like: "What's your name?" or "Where are you from?"

Like any other language, the main focus remains on practising what they have already learnt. Subhadra said, "As we do not meet many hearing-challenged people every day, it is important for us to practise whenever we can."

Battling the language barrier

As FingerChats aims at an inclusive method of making life comfortable for the hearing-challenged through public gatherings, it also takes the language barrier into consideration.

Deaf, in many non-English speaking countries, struggle with employment as their sign language syntax doesn't match English. So their aim is to train volunteers in "Indian Sign Language" so it becomes easier for the hearing impaired to communicate with the so-called normal world.

The future plans
FingerChats has now branched out into virtual programmes and has a WhatsApp group which broadcasts one sign per day.

They want to reach out to more people in India and expose them to sign language with customised versions of FingerChats for students, corporates and villagers.

They aim at going beyond borders and have hearing-challenged people from Nepal volunteering to understand the similarity of sign language in Nepali and Indian languages. They are also researching on Pakistani sign language via social media platforms.

Maharashtra to start college for hearing-and-speech impaired students: CM

 10.04.2017

MUMBAI: Chief minister Devendra Fadnavis instructed the social justice department to prepare a plan in a month for setting up high schools and colleges for hearing-and-speech-impaired students in the state.

Fadnavis called a meeting on Monday to solve the issues of hearing-impaired students with the State level association representatives at the Mantralaya.

"The state will put all efforts to teach Indian sign language in schools and will also set up learning centres for the same. Maharashtra will be the first state to do so," he added.

The CM also agreed for a Brain Stem Evoked Response Audiometry Test to find out genuine beneficiaries so that the actual needy should only reap the benefits. At the same time, ITI courses with the facility of interpreters at all divisional headquarters will be considered to enhance the technical knowledge of the students.

AIMS Media – 25 Job Openings for Persons with Disabilities

Job Openings For: Down Syndrome, Learning Disabilities, Cerebral Palsy, Autism Spectrum Disorder, Hearing Impaired, Acid Attack victim, Dwarfism and Locomotor Disability

Graphic Designer (18) | Office Management (03) | Assistant Faculty (Multimedia) (04)

Location: Delhi India

Industry: Media

Occupational Category: Professor of Biochemistry

Hours: Full-time, 40 hours+ per week

Salary: INR Negotiable

Description: AIMS Media
Job Requirements
Graphic Designer

• Adequate knowledge of designing software/s & control in keyboard
• Sketching skills and nice color sense

Assistant Faculty (Multimedia)

• Techno savvy
• Communication & teaching skills
• Adequate knowledge of designing software/s

Office Management

• Basic computer (MS word, power point & excel), internet surfing & browsing and access to Email
• Communication skills (telephonic and at personal)

Minimum Education Requirements:

• 10th Pass+ / Diploma

Experience requirements:

• Freshers can also apply

* Applicant age must be on or above 18 years as on dated 01 April 2017.
* Last date to submit curriculum vitae resume is 11th April 2017.
* Applicants will call for interview only after screening of their resume & documents.
* Selection of candidate will be a sole decision of selection committee.

IF INTERESTED: Please submit your curriculum vitae resume along with a write up about yourself, your
expectations and your portfolio ‘if any’ via mail at “cc.aimsmedia@gmail.com”

Company Profile
AIMS Media provides Educational services to students of all age groups and abilities. Ever since its inception, AIMS Media has tried to make the existing and traditional education system more interesting, innovative and employment-oriented. Furthermore, it has successfully positioned many students in various organizations based on their distinctive competencies. AIMS Media works with Differently-Abled students having special needs and disabilities under the “Mission of building an Inclusive and Accessible Society”.
AIMS Media Pvt. Ltd.
Corporate Office: B-5, Gurudwara Road, Madhu Vihar, Patparganj, New Delhi -92 (IND).
Ph: +91-11-41561501/2501 | Email: info.aimsmedia@gmail.com
Website: www.aimsmedia.net.in | Follow us at: www.facebook.com/aimsmedia

JIPMER Special Recruitment Drive for Persons with Disabilities

‘Mowgli girl’ shifted to Lucknow shelter home

07.04.2017
The “Mowgli girl”, who was apparently brought up by monkeys in the Kataraniaghat forests and rescued by a “Dial 100” team, has been shifted to a shelter home for mentally ill in Lucknow.

The 10-year-old girl was today brought to her new home — Nirvaah — after the Child Welfare Committee approved sending the girl to the shelter home.

She was given a tearful farewell by the staff at the Bahraich district hospital where she has been undergoing treatment for two months.

On Friday, Bahraich district officials named her “Van Durga”. But within hours her name was changed as several hospital staff and visitors attempted to worship her, causing her to screech in fright. Finally, she was named Puja in a juvenile court where she was produced before shifting her to Lucknow.

A team of psychologists led by Dr PK Dalal, head of the psychiatry department at King George’s Medical University, visited the Bahraich district hospital to examine the girl. When asked if the girl is deaf and dumb, Dr Dalal said, “It might appear but we have seen her mumble for water in the hospital.” He said she was perhaps not aware of a human vocabulary therefore, she was unable to speak.

He said the girl had to be protected from unknown persons and visitors for the next few months till she got accustomed to human presence and slowly began to react normally. “Only the shelter home staff and doctors are allowed to meet her,” he said.

Hospital CMS Dr DK Singh said they had locked the channel-gate to keep the unwanted crowd outside.

விக்டோரியா மாணவர் விடுதி பாதுகாப்பு குறைபாடுடன் தான் இயங்குகிறது: கல்லூரி முதல்வர் ஒப்புதல்

07.04.2017, சென்னை: 

விக்டோரியா மாணவர் விடுதிபாதுகாப்பு குறைபாடுடன் தான் இயங்குகிறது என் கல்லூரி முதல்வர் ஒப்புக்கொண்டுள்ளார். சென்னை மாநிலக்கல்லூரியின் விக்டோரியா மாணவர் விடுதியில் மாற்றுத்திறனாளி மாணவர் மூன்றாவது தளத்தில் இருந்து கீழே விழுந்தது தொடர்பாக மாநிலக்கல்லூரி முதல்வர் பிரம்மானந்த பெருமாள் விளக்கம் அளித்துள்ளார். அவர் வெளியிட்ட அறிக்கை: விக்டோரியா மாணவர் விடுதி கட்டிடம் 100 ஆண்டுகளுக்கு முன் கட்டப்பட்டது. அந்த கட்டிடத்தில் இருக்கும் பாதுகாப்பற்ற அம்சங்களையும் வசதியின்மை தொடர்பாக தொழில்நுட்ப துறைக்கு, சில ஆண்டுகளுக்கு முன் எடுத்து கூறினோம். அதுதொடர்பாக நினைவூட்டல்களையும் பல முறை அளித்துள்ளோம்.

வெளிமாவட்ட மாணவர்கள் (குறிப்பாக காதுகேளாதோர் மற்றும் வாய் பேச முடியாதவர்கள்) நலன் பாதிக்கப்படக்கூடாது என்பதற்காக சில பாதுகாப்பு குறைபாடு விடுதியில் இருப்பதாக கருதினாலும், மாணவர்கள் தொடர்ந்து அங்கு தங்கிக்ெகாள்ள அனுமதிக்கப்படுகிறது. சேப்பாக்கம் கிரிக்கெட் மைதானத்தில் கிரிக்கெட் போட்டிகள் நடக்கும் நாட்களில் விடுதி வளாகத்தில் கார் பார்க்கிங் செய்துகொள்ள அனுமதிக்கப்பட்டுள்ளது. அதற்காக கிரிக்கெட் மைதான நிர்வாகத்திடம் இருந்து நாள் ஒன்றுக்கு ரூ.1000 பெறப்பட்டு விக்டோரியா மாணவர் விடுதியின் வங்கிக்கணக்கில் செலுத்தப்படுகிறது. அந்த பணம் விடுதி மாணவர்களுக்காக செலவிடப்படுகிறது. இவ்வாறு அந்த அறிக்கையில் கூறப்பட்டுள்ளது.

10-yr-old runaway from Pingalwara found, handed over to officials

The 10-year old disabled boy (in red T-shirt), who ran away from 

Pingalwara, was recovered and sent back in Amritsar on Thursday

Amritsar, April 6
A 10-year old disabled child, Rajeev, was today handed over to Pingalwara officials after he ran away from the organisation’s Manawala facility a day earlier. The child was found by a Sharifpura resident, Ramandeep Sodhi, who had lodged a complaint of the missing child with the Rambagh police station.

In a gross lapse of security, the child had ran away from the Manawala complex, despite security claims by officials. Incidentally, this is not the first time Rajeev has run away. “He was handed over to Pingalwara four months back when the police had found him deserted and roaming on city streets. He was studying in our school for deaf children and had earlier too run away twice, only to return on his own,” said RP Singh, in charge of the school for deaf at Pingalwara’s Manawala complex. According to RP Singh, Rajeev is an ódd case’ and an expert in breaking locks, “We had a tough time confining him to his room, as he breaks locks and has a knack for going missing. We had put him under psychological counselling as well and tried to confine him to a high-security hostel. But there has been no improvement. We cannot keep these children locked up, as it is not good for their physical and mental health. We are still clueless as to how he broke out of the main entrance gate and managed to run away.”

Meanwhile, Sharifpura resident Ramandeep says that he found the child sitting outside his house at late evening on Wednesday. “He was playing with some kids in our neighbourhood and later I found him sitting in front of our gate. I asked him about his whereabouts and realised he cannot speak or hear. I gave him food and shelter while lodging a missing child complaint at the Rambagh police station. Today morning, we were informed that the child was from Pingalwara and he was handed over to the officials in the presence of the police.”

The incident, however, raises questions over the security arrangements of the facility that is home to many disabled children.

உடைந்த பால்கனி வழியாக தவறி விழுந்த (காதுகேளாத, வாய் பேச முடியாத, பார்வை குறைபாடு உடையவர்) மாற்றுத்திறனாளி படுகாயம்: விக்டோரியா விடுதி மாணவர்கள் நள்ளிரவில் உள்ளிருப்பு போராட்டம்

06.04.2017

* கல்லூரி நிர்வாகம் மீது சரமாரி குற்றச்சாட்டு
* பாழடைந்த கட்டிடத்தால் பாதுகாப்பு கேள்விக்குறி
* புதிய கட்டிடம் கட்ட ஒதுக்கிய ₹60 கோடி எங்கே?

சென்னை: சென்னை மாநில கல்லூரி மாணவர்களுக்கான விக்டோரியா விடுதி, சேப்பாக்கம் கிரிக்கெட் மைதானம் அருகே உள்ளது. இதில், 430 மாணவர்கள் தங்கி படித்து வருகின்றனர். இவர்களில், 50க்கும் மேற்பட்ட மாணவர்கள் மாற்றுத்திறனாளிகள் (காது கேளாதோர், பார்வை குறைப்பாடு உடையவர்கள், வாய் பேச இயலாதவர்கள்). இந்த விடுதியில் உள்ள 160 அறைகளில் 10க்கும் மேற்பட்ட அறைகள் பயன்படுத்துவதற்கு தகுதியற்ற நிலையில் உள்ளன. கடந்த சில ஆண்டுகளாகவே விடுதி வளாகம் இருளில் மூழ்கி கிடக்கிறது. கழிவறை, வராண்டா, படிக்கட்டு உள்ளிட்ட பகுதிகளில் மின்விளக்குகள் எரிவது இல்லை. இதனால், இரவு நேரத்தில் மாணவர்கள் தங்களின் செல்போனில் உள்ள விளக்குளை பயன்படுத்தி தான் மெஸ், கழிப்பறை உள்ளிட்ட பகுதிகளுக்கு சென்று வருகின்றனர்.

மேலும், பெரும்பாலான அறைகளிலும் மின்சாதன பொருட்கள் பழுதாகி, மாணவர்கள் தினமும் இருளில் படிக்கும் அவலநிலை ஏற்பட்டுள்ளது. விடுதியின் மூன்று தளத்திலும் வரண்டாவில் உள்ள தடுப்புச்சுவர் உடைந்து ஆபத்தான நிலையில் தொங்குகிறது. இதனால், இரவு நேரங்களில் மாணவர்கள் கீழே தவறி விழும் நிலை உள்ளது. எனவே, விடுதியில் அடிப்படை வசதிகளை நிறைவேற்ற வேண்டும், தடுப்புச்சுவரை சீரமைக்க வேண்டும் என கல்லூரி முதல்வர் மற்றும் அதிகாரிகளிடம் பலமுறை புகார் அளித்தும் இதுவரை எந்தவித நடவடிக்கையும் எடுக்கவில்லை என மாணவர்கள் குற்றம்சாட்டுகின்றனர். இந்நிலையில், விடுதியின் 105வது அறையில் தங்கியிருக்கும் வந்தவாசியை சேர்ந்த பி.காம் இறுதியாண்டு மாணவர் பாலு (20) (காதுகேளாத, வாய் பேச முடியாத, பார்வை குறைபாடு உடையவர்) நேற்று முன்தினம் இரவு 10.45 மணிக்கு மூன்றாவது தளத்தில் உள்ள கழிப்பறைக்கு சென்றுள்ளார். பின்னர், வராண்டாவில் நடந்து சென்றபோது, தடுப்புச்சுவர் இடிந்து திறந்தவெளியாக இருந்த பகுதியை நடைபாதை என நினைத்து காலை எடுத்து வைத்ததால், மூன்றாது மாடியில் இருந்து கீழே விழுந்தார்.

இதில், அவருக்கு கை, கால், முதுகு பகுதியில் பலத்த காயம் ஏற்பட்டது. அந்த நேரத்தில் அங்கு யாரும் இல்லாததால், அவர் கீழே தவறி விழுந்தது யாருக்கும் தெரியவில்லை. சிறிது நேரம் கழித்து அவ்வழியாக முதலாமாண்டு படிக்கும் மாணவர் ஒருவர் கழிப்பறை செல்ல வந்தபோது, அலறல் சத்தம் கேட்டதால், பள்ளத்தில் எட்டி பார்த்துள்ளார். ஆனால், அங்கு மின்விளக்குகள் இல்லாததால் எதுவும் தெரியவில்லை. இதையடுத்து, அறைக்கு சென்று செல்போனை எடுத்து வந்து, டார்ச் அடித்து பார்த்தபோது, அங்கு பாலு உயிருக்கு போராடி கொண்டு இருப்பதை பார்த்து அதிர்ச்சியடைந்தார். சக மாணவர்கள் அவரை மீட்டு சிகிச்சைக்காக சென்னை அரசு பொது மருத்துவமனையில் சேர்த்தனர். அங்கு அவருக்கு தீவிர சிகிச்சை அளிக்கப்பட்டு வருகிறது.

இந்நிலையில், மாணவர் கீழே விழுந்தததற்கு கல்லூரி நிர்வாகத்தின் அலட்சியமே காரணம் என்று கூறி, 200க்கும் மேற்பட்ட மாணவர்கள் நேற்று முன்தினம் நள்ளிரவு விடுதி வளாகத்திலேயே உள்ளிருப்பு போராட்டத்தில் ஈடுபட்டனர். தகவலறிந்து கல்லூரி முதல்வர் பிரம்மானந்த பெருமாள், அண்ணா சதுக்கம் போலீசார் நள்ளிரவு 2 மணி அளவில் விடுதி வளாகத்துக்கு வந்து, மாணவர்களிடம் பேச்சுவார்த்தை நடத்தினர். ஆனால், மாணவர்கள் போராட்டத்தை கைவிட மறுத்து, இதற்கு நிரந்திர தீர்வு காணப்பட்டால்தான் நாங்கள் கலைந்து செல்வோம் என கூறினர். இதையடுத்து, ஒரு வாரத்துக்குள் விடுதி வளாகத்திற்கான பராமரிப்பு பணிகளை தொடங்குவதாகவும், காயமடைந்த மாணவரின் மருத்துவ செலவுகளை ஏற்பதாக கல்லூரி முதல்வர் மற்றும் போலீசார் உறுதியளித்தனர். அதைதொடர்ந்து மாணவர்கள் போராட்டத்தை கைவிட்டு கலைந்து சென்றனர். 

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VOTE: இந்தியாவில் உள்ள அனைத்து பைபிள் வகுப்பிலும் காதுகேளாதோர்களுக்கு பாடம் கற்றுக்கொடுப்பது கட்டாயம் வேண்டுமா? வேண்டாமா?

How India’s ‘Goonga Pehelwan' Rose To Fame From Dangals In-Spite Of Being Mocked At And Refused An Entry In Olympics

05.04.2017

The state of Haryana over the years has produced many wrestlers who have won many a laurels for the country. Be it the Phogat sisters or Olympians Sakshi Mallik and Yogeshwar Dutt, each of them have represented the country in various International platforms.

But while these able-bodied wrestlers have achieved immense victories, the state of Haryana has now taken a step-up in identifying and providing for the physically disabled wrestlers as well. These Paralympics’ wrestlers will now not only receive the same prize money as the Olympians, but a steady job and various other facilities as well.

And the one man that opened the doors for the physically impaired wrestlers is none other than the ‘Goonga Pehelwan’ Virender Singh. Being deaf and mute, Virender was often subjected to mockery among fellow wrestlers. But this mockery only encouraged him even further and today, he’s the sole deaf Indian wrestler who’s capable of fighting able-bodied wrestlers with utter brilliance.

Although Virender won laurels in several International platforms, his goal of competing at the Rio Olympics 2016 couldn’t be accomplished. Intending to change the notion on mute wrestlers, here’s what Virender did...

Shuttler Gauravi's inner voice takes her to another Deaflympics

05.04.2017
PUNE: Seven years ago, when Pune shuttler Gauravi Wamburkar was 13, she got a chance to play with Saina Nehwal in Bengaluru.

Those five minutes were enough for Gauravi, who suffers from hearing problem since birth, to make badminton her top-most priority.

Last year, the Indian ace badminton player once again motivated the Pune girl, this time with recovering from injury.

Gauravi who was going strong with her game, got her knees operated in 2015 and 2016. When she was low on morale, she saw her idol making a strong comeback despite undergoing a knee operation.

Gauravi, 20, will get the honour of representing India at the 23rd Summer Deaflympics to be held in Samsun, Turkey, from July 18. This will be her second successive participation in the quadrennial event. In 2013, she had reached the quarterfinals.

"But this time I want to come back with a medal. I had no idea of Olympics pressure when I went there in 2013. But this time I know what to expect," said the second year BCA student of Brihan Maharashtra College of Commerce (BMCC).

"I got my knees operated, but I had a strong rehabilitation programme. I also started training at NKBA, which has helped me improve my game," said the shuttler, who trains at former Olympian Nikhil Kanetkar's academy in Balewadi.

Gauravi was selected to represent the country at the Deaflympics after she won two gold (women's doubles and mixed doubles) and a silver in the singles category at the 21st National Games for deaf in Chennai last week.

In the singles of her section, she is ranked No. 1 in the state and No. 2 in the country. She is ranked 34th in the world ranking.

The Only child of businessman Jayant and dance teacher Abha, Gauravi feels she is blessed to have people around her who don't make her realise about her condition.

But as a child, she had to go through a lot of teasing by kids in school. "I used to get teased as I couldn't hear properly and my speech wasn't clear. I used to feel bad but I used to divert my mood by hitting the court. That helped me set challenges for myself," said the Gauravi, who took up the sport at age five.

She idolises Rajeev Bagga who had not only won the National title in the open section but had also reached the main draw of All-England championship. She wants to replicate the glory of Bagga, now the British citizen, who won multiple Deaflympics gold medals for India.

"I met Rajeev sir at the 2013 Deaflympics. He is such an inspiration and I want to play like he did," said Gauravi.

That would be a tall order. But she will at least try to stand taller than the odds and will continue to draw strength from her inner voice.

Rupmani Chhetri, India's first differently-abled UN volunteer: India is not at all disabled-friendly

05.04.2017

Sitting in the United Nations office in Lodhi Estate on a Monday afternoon, Rupmani Chhetri looked excited. She had just returned from the Ukraine visa office, and it had been a successful visit - she is currently in Ukraine, where she will be spending the next couple of years as part of the United Nations Volunteers(UNV) programme. Till date, around 1,800 Indians have worked as international volunteers, but what makes Rupmani's case unique is the fact that she is the first differently-abled Indian to be selected for this role. "I have been associated with UN programmes for some time now and have taken part in events and conferences, but this is the first time I will be working as part of the UN family. I feel excited and greatly encouraged," says Rupmani.

'It has been a difficult journey'

The 30-year-old was born in Nepal and when she was six months old, her family moved to India - Darjeeling, to be precise. "There was little knowledge about hearing and speech impairment and my school did not realize that I needed sign language to communicate. They tried everything to make me utter words, and would even pull my lips so that I could make some noise. I was even beaten up by the teachers for using sign language," she signs. "My parents tried everything to make me talk, and this included visits to priests and babas who would suggest totkas and mantras and convinced them that I would start speaking soon. But all this only made me sick," adds Rupmani. She felt life would be better when she befriended a Delhi-based man, who also had hearing impairment. They ran away and came to the capital and got married. "But I soon realized that I was being discriminated against further," she says. "My husband did not like it when I would interact with other people. He would want me to stay at home. My unhappiness grew and I realized that I had to get out of the relationship. It was not easy, but I went for a divorce. These were clearly some very difficult times in my life." The divorce was tough, but it helped make her stronger, says Rupmani. Today, she is an executive member of the National Association of the Deaf (NAD).

'India is not disabled-friendly'

"India is not at all disabled-friendly, and if you are a woman, your life is often tougher," says Rupmani, adding, "For those who can't hear or/and speak, communication is a big problem and very few people understand sign language. The situation is worse in rural areas. For instance, when girls with hearing and speech impairment start menstruating, there is often no proper communication, as a result of which many, for years, have no clue what is happening to them and live with a sense of guilt and shame. This is just one of the many problems we face. Atrocities committed against differently-abled persons hardly ever make it to the news. Communication is the key, we have to reach out to them."

Lack of interpreters in India

According to the government census of 2011, there are 3 million deaf people in India. However, according to conservative, non-governmental estimates, there are 18 million deaf people in the country. In India, there are only 250 certified, trained interpreters for the Indian sign language. "There are very few people who know sign language in India," says Rupmani, and adds, "In case of hearing disability, one needs to be dependent on an interpreter at every stage. Just like people learn foreign languages, sign language should be learnt and taught extensively in India. To reach out to people across the globe, to understand them and communicate with them, it's important to learn international sign language as well." Recounting how she learnt international sign language, Rupmani says, "I took some classes and also learnt it through social media, like YouTube and Facebook. Just like any other language, I started learning it faster when I started interacting with people from other countries."

'Help differently-abled kids believe in themselves'

Adding a piece of advice for parents with kids who are differently abled, she says, "Just empower them and help them believe in themselves. There is no need for sympathy. They can achieve anything. Just remove the 'im' from impossible."

Like most Indians, cricket and Bollywood are very much on Rupmani's mind. Talking about her favourite stars, she says, "Not very difficult to guess - Sachin and Shah Rukh Khan!"