Articles
Jun 27 2005
Poison in their veins
: Poison in their veins
Researchers at the New Delhi based Centre for Science and Environment have found alarmingly high levels of pesticides in blood samples of villagers in Punjab, the showpiece state of India's green revolution. India needs to urgently take a tough look at the indiscriminate and careless use of pesticides, writes Ramesh Menon.
Jun 25 2005
Whose suicide is it, anyway?
: Whose suicide is it, anyway?
In Yavatmal district alone, there's been an eight-fold increase in farmers' suicides in just four years. Yet, thanks to a flawed counting process, even that is a huge under-estimate. P Sainath continues his series on the agrarian crisis in Vidharbha.
Jun 25 2005
Coastal sand mining push despite eco-risks
: Coastal sand mining push despite eco-risks
On 7 June, the Kerala government-constituted K John Mathew Commission greenlighted mineral sand mining on a narrow strip of beach and the adjacent sea basin in Alapuzha district. M Suchitra and P N Venugopal note that the report has irked the local communities as well as environmentalists.
Jun 24 2005
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Bringing hope to the rural disabled
Since 1988, SANCHAR has worked to improve the lives of the disabled in rural West Bengal. And with the increasing resources available by law to assist the handicapped now, SANCHAR is working to make sure panchayats tap into these to help their community. Rina Mukherji reports.

24 June 2005 - Sanu Ghosh was around one and a half years old when a visit to SSKM Hospital in Kolkata to treat an attack of pneumonia saw him diagnosed as a patient of cerebral palsy. But then, his daily wage-earning parents from the rural outskirts of the city could hardly have been expected to arrange for the necessary rehabilitation of their little son. Fortunately for them, the Society for Appropriate Rehabilitation for the Disabled (SANCHAR) traced him out when he was four, and even detected a hip dislocation that nobody had noticed until then. Today, not only does Sanu attend school, but can manage to seat himself there, thanks to a chair designed by SANCHAR. A similar contraption for his home enables him to manage his daily domestic chores. At school, he uses his mouth to hold a pencil to write, and can read and write nearly as well as any child of his age.

Arup Sani was struck with polio at the age of three, resulting in the impairment of his left leg and right hand. The son of daily wage earning parents belonging to Krishnarampur village in South 24-Parganas, Arup was adopted by SANCHAR when seven years old. The provision of calipers and crutches under the government's scheme enabled Arup to attend the village primary school. Arup is now 19, and studying at the higher secondary level. He is not only getting educated, but also teaching three hearing impaired children from the neighbouring village. Besides, Arup is helping a visually challenged child, Mafijul, studying in the second grade, as a writer during the latter's exams.

Very few people can identify 21-year old Sujata as a disabled young woman, given her confidence. And yet, Sujata could hardly move ever since she was struck with polio at one and a half years. Thanks to SANCHAR's home-based programme, Sujata not only helps her family make puffed rice for sale, but has taken advantage of the vocational training imparted to be able to stitch her own dresses. She is currently learning embroidery even as she broadens her knowledge of dressmaking to earn an income.

These are but examples of the work taken up by SANCHAR on behalf of more than a thousand disabled persons in rural areas. Starting in 1988, SANCHAR launched itself with field support from CINI (a non-governmental organization working in the field of health) to work with disabled children. At first, there were only three or four children that the organization worked with, in a couple of villages. Today, SANCHAR operates in 75 villages spread over 4 blocks - Falta, Bishnupur I and II, and Thakurpukur-Maheshtala, bringing assistance to 819 disabled persons and 774 families. It has been a long journey, but as Director Tulika Das concedes, "The Disabilities Act of 1995 has proved a shot in the arm. With so much being offered by the government now, it is not too difficult to convince communities and Panchayats to take the initiative and give a fairer deal to the disabled."

The organization works at three levels: the disabled individual, his/her family and the community. At the family level, SANCHAR personnel provide the necessary training to the parents and family-members as regards handling of a physically or mentally challenged child. Physiotherapy is provided for free by a professional to enable the child to handle his/her own chores. In cases where a child is unable to move out of the home to attend school, SANCHAR personnel actually arrange for the child's education at home.

"The Disabilities Act of 1995 has proved a shot in the arm. With so much being offered by the government now, it is not too difficult to convince communities and Panchayats to take the initiative and give a fairer deal to the disabled."

Editors' Note: The author has separately compiled a list of key facilities that can be accessed under the provisions of the Disability Act; click here to access this page. The community-based rehabilitation programme involves sensitizing villagers through villager education committees, members of which comprise Panchayat pradhans and members of the Panchayat, liaising with school authorities to provide the necessary facilities such as ramps and suitable chairs for the challenged and allowing clinics to be operated for their benefit. SANCHAR also facilitates the provision of identity cards, stipends and the like by getting Panchayat pradhans to apply and arrange for the same. Wheelchairs, hearing aids and appliances are given free by the government to all those whose incomes are below Rs 5000 a year. "All that we do is spread awareness among the persons in the village community about the facilities available", says Das. Tying up with Mobility India for the past two years has also helped Sanchar in this respect.

"We especially provide technical know-how for the building of school ramps. The incline should never be too steep, lest the wheelchair user rolls down." It is to the credit of SANCHAR that nearly all schools in the 4 blocks in which it works have ramps to cater to the disabled, whereas most educational institutions and libraries in Kolkata lacking these, despite government funds being available for the purpose.

Rehabilitation through vocational training is what SANCHAR has especially been working towards when dealing with the disabled. Here, training is imparted in vocations that complement the traditional occupations prevalent here. For instance, brush-making being a common cottage industry here, many mentally challenged youngsters have been trained in the vocation. The hearing or visually impaired youngsters interested in starting on a new enterprise have been imparted training in making packing boxes for these brushes.

Sometimes, interest and talent may also determine the kind of training given. Physically challenged Krishna, for instance, always showed an uncanny talent for needlecraft since childhood. After being given the necessary training, Krishna has been taking on embroidery jobs to cater to the market and is earning a steady income. He is also training some others in the village to help him in the business.

SANCHAR
Director: Tulika Das
A-2/6 Diamond Park, Joka,
Kolkata 700104,
West Bengal.
Tel: 91-033-24975625.
e-mail: sanchar@vsnl.com Not resting on its laurels thus far, the organization looks forward to changing the negative attitude of communities with regard to the disabled. The low priority to the disabled in national planning is also a matter of concern to SANCHAR. "It is important that disability figures on the agenda of all development plans formulated by the government in this country," emphasizes Tulika Das. For now, the organization is busy reaching out to prevent the occurrence of disability and help in rehabilitation of the disabled in as many villages as possible-including those outside its field area - through Open Day programmes. (Charkha Features) ⊕

Rina Mukherji
24 Jun 2005

Rina Mukherji is a freelance journalist, interested specifically in social and development issues.

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Jun 23 2005
Mental health care needs help
: Mental health care needs help

The Indian experience in institutionalised mental help has not been civilising. The National Human Rights Commission had issued a condemnation of the state of mental hospitals as early as six years ago. Parul Sharma notes that misguided private counselling and the lack of richer case law have compounded victims' problems.

Jun 22 2005
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Snuffed out on screen
Smoking in the movies fosters a culture that encourages young people to smoke, whereas what is needed is that we actively develop antipathy to smoking! More than the health effects alone, it is this battle that has been engaged by the government's move to ban tobacco on screen, says Pankaj Chaturvedi.
Jun 22 2005
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GI protection: too little, too slow
The registration of Geographical Indications in the country has been slow to get off the ground. At a time when spurious rip-offs are abundant, the government isn't paying adequate attention to ensure speedier registration that would help tap the potential markets for India's rich bioversity. Varupi Jain reports.
Jun 21 2005
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BHEL: The turtle and the hare-brained
Going back on its promise made in the Common Minimum Programme, the UPA government has put Bharat Heavy Electricals Ltd. on the carving table, allegedly to fund health and education. But the proceeds from the proposed sale of equity in BHEL are a fraction of what could be raised by different, less repulsive means, says P Sainath.
Jun 21 2005
NEAA rejecting clearance appeals coldly
: NEAA rejecting clearance appeals coldly
On 20 May, the National Environment Appellate Authority refused to admit two appeals cases where citizens and panchayat representatives in Uttaranchal had challenged Central government clearances to two hydro-electric power projects, on grounds of failure in due process. Kanchi Kohli was at the hearings.
Jun 19 2005
From women's media to rural media
: From women's media to rural media
Newsletters in UP that began as a development effort to help women communicate among themselves have evolved into much more, addressing problems that are relevant to whole communities instead. Tarannum Manjul reports on a crop of 'alternate media' that is in fact very much the centre of the communities they serve.
Jun 18 2005
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Blaming women
Recent statistics about the growing number of women afflicted by HIV/AIDS around the world and in India are throwing light on a different dimension of this disease. The link between inequitable gender relations and the spread of HIV is setting it apart from other communicable diseases, says Kalpana Sharma.
Jun 17 2005
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Last refuge of the victim
Can everyone be a victim? Talking to the Kashmiris, the Pandits, and the people in Jammu, Dilip D'Souza finds each community stating its demands for change in very similar themes. Each is certain that true patriotism demands fair consideration of its view, but each also believes itself to be the victim.
Jun 16 2005
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Government proposes, Parliament disposes
In our system of government, elected representatives of the people make laws, as well as administer them. Although the constitution separates these roles well, in practice, we find that the lawmaking role is nearly always superceded by administrative preferences, and only limited benefits result from the legislative discourse. The India Together editorial.
Jun 15 2005
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Budget 2005: Rhetoric vs. reality
Allocations in the annual budget are the real indicators of the government's priorities. It is by studying these that we can really judge how committed the administration is to the goals proclaimed publicly. Jacob John examines Budget 2005 and finds a yawning gap between promises made and the money approved to achieve them.
Jun 14 2005
Mining away the river
: Mining away the river
Despite numerous prohibitions and regulations, sand mining continues rapidly on the riverbed of the Bharathapuzha. Water tables have dropped dramatically, and a land once known for its plentiful rice harvest now faces scarcity of water, as locals are split between conservation and livelihood. Deepa A reports.
Jun 13 2005
Wages of old age: Chingrajpara's elderly
: Wages of old age: Chingrajpara's elderly
The senior citizens of Chingrajpara slum in Bilaspur are unable to benefit from the largesse of the many government departments in New Delhi. In this fifth article in our SLUM DIARIES series, Ashima Sood notes that they go begging in the alleys of the slum, depending instead on their more reliable humble neighbours.
Jun 10 2005
Summer in Kolkata
: Summer in Kolkata
Branded as insipidly traditional and rather reluctant to keep up with the up-country changing currents, Kolkata has let itself be swept by a few Bollywood blockbusters. Summer holiday camps for kids and teenagers have taken the city by storm. Children are changing too, reports Kasturi Basu.
Jun 10 2005
Mixed results for municipal water reforms
: Mixed results for municipal water reforms
A new publication released by a leading UN research organisation shows that municipal water utilities may make efficiency gains and meet increasing water demand by innovative revenue collection and limited private sector participation. Researchers studied 4 cities in Maharashtra. Surekha Sule reports.
Jun 08 2005
IIM Kozhikode runs on rainwater
: IIM Kozhikode runs on rainwater
This B-school's 96-acre campus occupies two steep hillocks. There is no independent water source for the entire institute and the average daily water consumption exceeds one lakh litres. The absence of pre-monsoon showers in mid-Kerala is causing worry elsewhere, but IIM-Kozhikode shows no signs of anxiety. Shree Padre finds out why.
Jun 07 2005
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A sting in the story
Are exposes good journalism? Who exactly should media organisations be trying to inform and what is the information they should bring to their audiences? Darryl D'Monte finds himself in an unexpectedly pleasant bookshop in Mumbai, at a panel discussion on sting journalism.