Disability

Disability refers to the condition of being physically or mentally disabled or challenged. The disabled are physically handicapped people. They may be blind, cripple, deaf or dumb. Those who are mentally disabled suffer from retardation and low intelligence quotient.

There are lakhs of disabled people who face discrimination on a regular basis. Very few employers hire such people as most considered them as a liability than an asset to the organization. However, many blind and impaired people have contributed tremendously to their associated organizations.

There are many cases of how disabled people have done themselves proud by being their own bosses. I have come across some disable people running business such as shops, restaurants, telephone booths, handicraft centers, etc. Some have become teachers and professionals through hard work and willpower. Many have even become successful sports personalities winning medals. For me it is a folly to think that only physically able people can make one’s country proud.

Since many disables face discrimination, they tend to isolate themselves from society. They feel unwanted, discarded and rejected. We must change our mind set to accept them and assimilate them into our society.

If I had power to improve the state of disable people, I would have introduced certain measures to safeguard them with education and employment. I would have passed special laws making it compulsory for employers to allot a certain number of jobs for the disabled. I would have started different trusts and organizations offering financial and medical assistance to make their survival little easy.

I would have launched campaigns educating society on the need to accept and live in harmony with the disabled, rather than treat them as burdens. Instead of setting up special schools for them, I would have close down such schools and the disabled children would have been encouraged to join regular schools. This would enable the regular students to understand and accept such peers. The disabled children too would not suffer from low esteem or even feel embarrassed mixing with regular children.

Most of our public infrastructure, public transport and government buildings are not disabled-friendly. I would have made sincere efforts to ensure the disabled to have access to these places and not feel disadvantaged in anyway.

It is high time that we accept such people as an important section of our society. Despite their physical deformity, they play an important role in our lives. I would have made every effort helping them to gain more respect and acceptance in society.