By Rehana Kousar Reshi
Fifteen years have passed since Farida Begum, who is now 30 years old, was confined to her house. In 2007, she suddenly collapsed and has been unable to walk ever since due to polio, leaving her legs paralyzed for life. Despite her condition, Farida manages to live her life with the support of her family.
Hailing from Dana Dhakran Fatehpur village in Mandi block in Poonch district, Jammu and Kashmir, Farida could only study up to the 10th standard before becoming paralyzed. She had aspirations to continue her studies, but her lack of physical mobility became a significant obstacle. “I always wanted to do something big and make my parents proud. I can still try to make my life better if I receive any support from the government, such as owning a wheelchair or getting free treatment,” Farida shared her thoughts.
Highlighting her dependency on her parents, she shared, “I am so dependent on my parents that my day starts and ends with their support. Having support in terms of mobility aids or equipment from the government can help me be self-independent,” expressed Farida.
Farida’s cousin, Shamshad Akhtar, who is also a local from the village, laments the fact that, although there are many schemes available for people with disabilities, they are hardly accessible. According to him, the lack of information about various schemes prevented his cousin from accessing them. The insufficient effort from the local authorities and the major gap in knowledge about applying for these schemes cause people like his cousin to fail in accessing the support they need. As a result, their daily lives are affected, and they often face discrimination.
Women with disabilities are particularly vulnerable to unsafe environments and discrimination when they lack proper support, such as mobility aids. Shamshad further highlights that even in special schools for children with disabilities, boys are given preference over girls. This disparity results in fewer opportunities for education and subsequently financial independence for girls. Moreover, these girls often experience physical, emotional, and sexual abuse. Shamshad also points out that extended families only value them if they can prove their worth.
Apart from the gap in generating awareness and access to the schemes, there has been a reduction in the budget allocation for the Scheme for the Implementation of Persons with Disabilities Act (SIPDA), which is now Rs 150 crore. This year, there has been a decline from last year’s budget allocation of Rs 240 crores. Moreover, as per the revised estimates for 2022-23, only Rs 100 crore was used out of the allocated Rs 240 crore, which is 42%. Clearly, with a situation as such, many, like Farida, will be left out.
Speaking in this regard, Muhammad Aslam, the Sarpanch of the village, further pointed out that Farida’s issues get exacerbated as she belongs to a low-income family. Muhammad Bashir, Farida’s father, is a wage laborer, and Munira Bi, her mother, is a homemaker. “If I had money, I would have treated my daughter or at least gotten her a wheelchair. At times, I also have to skip a day or two of work as I have to take care of her,” Muhammad expressed.
While Munira Bi highlighted how difficult it gets for Farida to navigate her life every day. “We look after her for every little thing day and night. As she is paralyzed from her lower body, she walks on her hands. She already has wounds that bleed when she continues to use her hands for walking. Despite the pain, she has to do it as there is no other way to move from one place to another. She also faces a lot of problems in maintaining her reproductive health,” expressed Munira, Farida’s mother.
The lives of individuals like Munira will continue to be filled with struggles. While we talk about the importance of fundamental rights, the basic rights of people with disabilities get curbed at every minute of their lives. Whether it’s due to unused allocated budgets, lack of awareness about available schemes, or difficulties in making them easily accessible, there is a pressing need to find an efficient solution. Until then, Farida will continue to navigate her life with her hands wounded.
This article has been written under the Laadli Media Fellowship 2023.
The writer is Charkha’s Volunteer Trainer from Poonch, Jammu, and Kashmir.
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