By Meda Marwein
“I’ve always believed in inclusivity. Being in rooms where no one would offer a hand when I’m about to stand up. To be as normal as everyone else yet special, because I’ve got something to offer and contribute to society like everyone else,” says Mary Khardewsaw, a differently abled teacher from Mairang.
She is one of the few to have pursued her dreams despite being born with a clubbed foot. Her life has always revolved around educating and liberating young minds from the multifaceted obstacles that the world has constantly thrown at them. Her story is of resilience, being in a class of 40 regular students and using her acquired tools. Khardewsaw stood out in this rural hamlet as a beacon of hope for the many who were so long pushed into the sidelines.
In light of International Day of Persons with Disabilities on December 3, the United Nations has mandated a theme for this year’s celebration as “Transformative solutions for inclusive development: the role of innovation in fuelling an accessible and equitable world” where the differently abled are given an ideal space to grow in every field. When launching the United Nations Disability Inclusion Strategy in June 2019, the Secretary-General stated that the United Nations should lead by example and raise the Organisation’s standards and performance on disability inclusion—across all pillars of work, from headquarters to the field.
Wondering what the celebration meant for the specially-abled, Team Slate went in search of stories that spoke of sheer growth, tenacity and the growth of this ‘community’, as Jitendra Dkhar puts it, in the State.
As per the Census furnished by the Central Government in 2011, there are 2.68 crore persons with disabilities in India who constitute 2.13 percent of the total population. In Meghalaya the number is 44317, which constitutes about 1 per cent of the population. This includes persons with visual, hearing, speech, locomotor, intellectual and mental disabilities. Nearly 80 per cent of this population resides in rural areas. In these rural areas, a couple of people stood out who despite their conditions, chose to utilise resources near them and give new meaning to the words ‘inclusivity’ and ‘accessibility’.
Founder of Blind Lead Trust India (Non-Governmental organisation for the blind), Jitendra Dkhar is a paragon for the community. Narrating his origins, Dkhar spoke of the discrimination he had to face in his initial years of employment.
“I was chased out of my work because my disability hampered with my productivity,” said
Jitendra. “I could have been taught or gadgets could have been provided for people like us. But we had been neglected for long and the only thing left was getting fired. Being in the rural area and being disabled is the worst combination.”
It was at this point in his life when he understood the differences that comes with his disability. In 2018, Jitendra along with (L) Theodore Moallem started the Blind Lead Trust, to serve as a space of growth for people like him. Tucked in between the buzzing Laitumkhrah and the serene Laitkor area, in Lumbasuk A, Lawjynriew Nongthymmai, is the trust’s centre where they have been imparting technological knowledge, teaching them to be self-independent and protecting their rights in an ever-changing economy. The trust has hosted several awareness programmes and given lessons to the blind, to fully equip them with the means to provide for themselves and even went on to build a computer centre for the blind. Jitendra breaks in a long insightful monologue on numerous projects that he has put forth for blind women, younger blind children and the neglected and, his dream to urge the government for an ATM with software built in for the blind.
“Who would have thought that we’d be here, that I’d be doing this?” he mused. “To be able to stand for my community, to speak on the disparities and what needs to be done. People haven’t been sensitised – especially in the rural area – to what we go through, and there is a need to do so in order to boost inclusivity in the workforce. Challenges are necessary but solutions should be found in ourselves only,” he added.
In Mawblei, Mairang, Eastern West Khasi Hills, Justipassing
Ryntathiang is an entrepreneur who is keeping the tradition of making mura (traditional Khasi sitting stools) alive. A man filled with positive energy and enthusiasm, Justipassing dreams of building his own shop. His expertise in making mura has garnered him a great number of customers from all over the state. Team Slate met him at the Chief Minister Startup and Corporate Social Responsibility Conclave on November when he was awarded by Promotion and Incubation of Market-driven Enterprises (PRIME), Meghalaya.
Justipassing, 33 years of age, suffers from mobility impairment. Throughout his life he had faced many disappointments but when he saw the sight of a mura, an idea came to his mind.
“I think it was in 2009 or 2010 when I first started making mura. I used to disassemble these old rusty ones, buy new materials and assemble them again. It was then that I realised I loved making them. As more and more mura were made, I decided to sell them. When they started selling well, I was really happy,” he cheerily said. “Can you believe I have been selling them to almost an entire region of our district,” he added. With blooming prospects for his business, he decided to dedicate his life to this big dream of his.
Life is never complete without its ups and downs. Justipassing acknowledged that he does occasionally lag behind. Yet, each time he is put to the test, he always decides to fight through and through.
“I thought that I was all alone and that nobody would understand me, but I found myself in PRIME winning the e-challenge contest. I was even given a locomotive vehicle by the Chief Ministry to help me with my mobility,” he stated.
Meghalaya, as a breathing space for the differently abled, has come a long way since Bertha Dkhar’s contribution through the first Khasi Braille. As time changed, participation among the differently abled was seen in different spheres of life. Policy implementation and rights for persons with disability found their way into the state government, to enable the once neglected lot. “Although there are loopholes, there’s hope for a better tomorrow,” said Jitendra.
“Before it would be just us, an entire community of persons with disability. Somehow, there are people who are noticing us. They want to help us, which is a change for the better and feels liberating. That is what I’ve wanted for us too…to have an equal space,” he added.
Where spaces were seen as untouchable by many, Justipassing and Jitendra stood out like the overarching heliotropic plants seeking and wanting to be touched by sunlight or as we put it, hope. Different in their approaches, they share the same vision of a world where all people are liberated and forge their own path. As William Ernest Henley puts it in Invictus,
“It matters not how strait the gate,
How charged with punishments the scroll,
I am the master of my fate,
I am the captain of my soul.”