Children of a lesser god, cut from a different cloth or perhaps just odd. Those are some of the
names, individuals with disabilities are called. The life of an individual
marked by disability in Goa can be a very frustrating experience. An experience
that is marked by sympathy cloaked in indifference.
It is not uncommon to watch a mother to
dote over her child. But if the child suffers from some disability, a sense of
sadness accompanies the expressions of love and concern. Sadness at the fate of
the child, sadness at the possible knowledge of the tough life ahead and what
if it could be all undone. This is, of course, the viewpoint of the so called
regular people who are supposedly with all their faculties intact.
For the people supposedly with the
disabilities, the viewpoint is very different. They want to face the world on
their terms; they do not care to be called helpless; they would like to stand
on their own feet and face the challenges that life throws at them.
Here are some statistics that will throw
light on the size of the population that suffers from some kind of disability.
As per the census conducted in 2011, out of the 121 Cr population, 2.68 Cr
persons were disabled, which is 2.21% of the total population. In India, 20% of
the disabled persons are having disability in movement, 19% are with disability
in seeing, and another 19% are with disability in hearing. 8% has multiple
disabilities. The disability among children is a matter of serious concern as
it has wider implications. The Census 2011 showed that, in India, 20.42 lakh
children aged 0-6 years are disabled. Thus, one in every 100 children in the
age group 0-6 years suffered from some type of disability. Goa along with
Kerala has the highest literacy rate among the disabled persons at 70%.
Yesterday morning at the Kala Academy Goa, Campal-Panjim, Goa
was one of the five states that witnessed the launch of India’s National Anthem
in the sign language. It featured Amitabh Bachchan who learned the sign
language and several children with different disabilities. On the occasion,
there were around 900 students from 24 schools. Ten of the twenty four schools
present were for kids with special needs. That is a rather sad state of affairs
in the state when one has to remember that each and every kid is entitled to
education in a normal school. However, normal schools in the state do not have
the technology or the facilities to provide education to kids with special
needs.
For a state that prides itself on the quality of life, it is
galling that it has till date not passed the rights of persons with disability
act. The centre passed it in December 2016 and despite assurances by concerned
ministers in Goa, it was not passed in the session. Avelino De Sa of Disability
Rights Association of Goa (DRAG) said it was a really sad state of affairs. The
state, he said, was treating the differently abled like an afterthought. He
said it was important to change attitudes towards people with disabilities. It
was important to make society inclusive. “This act, if passed, will be a game
changer. It will mean 4% jobs will be guaranteed for people like us. And yes,
the private sector will provide employment up to 2%, which is fantastic,” he
said.
The
other dignitaries present at the release of the National Anthem in sign
language included Ganga Sirsat of the Goa Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan, Tiswadi Block,
Deputy Collector Agnelo Fernandes, Deputy Collector of Dharbandora and Yogesh
Dempo.
