Lack of facilities further handicaps disabled

By Snigdha Sen,

Times News Network

NEW DELHI: When a retired Armyman recently came back from the US to attend his court hearing accompanied by a dog, the judge was taken by surprise. It required some convincing by his counsel that it was a guide dog that his client used, since he was rendered partially blind by an accident five years back. Similar was the case with Rev Ari Suutarla from Finland, who was separated from his guide dog when an airline company here refused to let it on board.

The issue is not the presence or absence of guide dogs. The point is, we are yet to be fully convinced that with adequate assistive devices, the differently abled, especially the physically handicapped, can lead a near normal life. Not that such devices, are not available. Not that we are technologically incapable. But mass production is still a dream and prices are prohibitive. This is significant considering that according to conservative estimates, the disabled constitute five to six per cent of our population. For instance, Sanjeev Sachdeva, a government employee, suffers from progressive muscular dystrophy. This makes him almost completely dependent on a escort. Needless to say, there are no institutions or agencies that provide trained escorts. So he has to depend on “contracts”, relatives and friends. More often than not, they are uneducated, unemployed youth. Says Sachdeva. “After a point of time, the escorts pick up the needed skills and realise that they are indispensable. Then the problems begin. Their rates skyrocket and so do their demands. Sometimes, when I get irritable or upset, they can even physically hurt me or damage the wheelchair. And there is not much I can do,” he said.

Privacy, says Sachdeva, is one big compromise, for both the disabled and the escort. For this, he alternates between two escorts every six months to give them a break. “And since I travel a lot, they get a free trip to wherever I go.” He says. 

In several countries abroad, the governments have a system of community care. “Various agencies train people to serve as escorts, much like the nurses we train here,” said Vandana Bedi, executive director, Spastic Society of Northern India. “In case a physically challenged person cannot afford it, government grants are given. This is one scheme that should be taken up the National Trust for Cerebral Palsy, Autism and Mentally Retarded here,” she suggested.

However, Sachdev feels that with a little more support for assistive devices, he could cut his dependence on escorts. “An electric wheelchair responds to voice, touch or the mouth will mean I can manoeuvre without help,” he says. “Also, a hoist can help lift me on to a chair, bed, commode or anywhere I may need to sit. These can reduce dependence by at least 40 per cent.”

One sector, however, that has seen some remarkable progress in assistive devices is the visually-impaired sector. According to Ashwini Aggarwal, director, National Association for the Blind, good quality folding canes are made available for only Rs 80 by the National Institute for the Visually Handicapped, Dehradun, and they are even exported to neighbouring countries like Pakistan and Nepal. “The same costs over $20 in the US,” he said. Similarly, in association with HMT, the institute has come up with a Braille watch for Rs 450. “This is unimaginable in the west where it costs at least $100,” he said.

Braille typewriters, too, are easily available. “While in the US it costs about $650, we import parts and assemble them here for Rs 12,500,” says Aggarwal. “This includes a customs duty of Rs 5,000. If the government waives the duty, the Brailler machine would cost just Rs 7,000,” he said.

Devices could lend a helping hand

• As a nation, we are not yet convinced about the need to make the disabled less dependent.
• There is little stress on assistive devices for the disabled who comprise nearly 6 per cent of the population.
• Local manufacturers are few and imported devices cost too much.
• Most changes made so far seem to be cosmetic.
• Local manufacturers could take up the challenge as the market is considerable.

According to Aggarwal, India has an edge over many countries in manufacturing assistive devices. “The private sector is missing an opportunity. There’s a good market for such stuff,” he said. 

He, however, agreed that there was no sense of accountability or quality control in this sector. There’s is no statutory body to check whether these devices meet a minimum standard. Also, he said, simple audio devices like the talking thermometer and talking calculator are not available.

On the absence of guide dogs, he clarified that an attempt had failed in India because of the heat. “Guide dogs are from a breed that cannot withstand our climate. Even an attempt to train them in Shimla failed. Also, maintaining them is expensive.” he said.

According to Disabled Rights Group convener Javed Abidi, the problem is with the attitude towards the disabled. “There have been a lot of cosmetic changes. Issues are not being addressed. For instance, when I came back to India and settled in Delhi, I realised that I, a wheelchair user, could not take my weight at any weighing machine!” he said. However, efforts to change the system are on. Hiramath, a mechanical engineer based in Bangalore, in focusing on manufacturing aids for the disabled at an affordable price. “An electric wheelchair costs about Rs 1 lakh in the US. We are working on making it available for Rs 12,000. Solar battery chargers already have a market of 50,000 users. A hoist, which costs Rs 8 to 10 lakh in the US, will hopefully be available at Rs 25,000 here,” he said.

Source: Times New Network
Dated :17th December, 2001