Friends I have also put it on twitter and you may also choose to offer your comments here. The URL is: https://twitter.com/hpkotian/status/682616996588998656 The text is: The newly coined word "Divyang" referring to disabled is welcome only to the extent of it being innovative and the thought and emotion behind it. However, I would like to present what the disabled think about it and why.
For some time we have come across such terms like "differently abled", "special persons" etc. Now "divine body" is added to the list. If these attributes really mean something, the entire defense force should be replaced with persons having all these attributes. It makes strategic sense as the demands of the armed personnel require all these attributes. The fallacy of these terms gets busted here. If a person loses the use of organs he does not become divine or special. What is required is the support to minimize the effect of the disability or find ways to perform a task differently. The word disabled rightly clearly gives one a proper idea which organ is impacted and to what extent. This is what is required and accepted worldwide. Why do these terms keep popping up? I think it gives a sense of empathy to those using it. However, this is a false sense of empathy and in reality it is confused for sympathy. It only gives comfort to the person using it. However, the intent is to give comfort to the person to whom it is addressed. When a disabled person encounters such terminology, the first reaction is that the heart sinks, it makes him alarmed and apprehensive. He understands, this is a sweet pill before something bitter and unpalatable is going to be administered. What soon follows, his disability is pointed out and why a particular service he is supposed to receive in due course cannot be given. No attempt is made to look differently and even if the person articulates how the disabled can effectively perform the task, His plea is summarily disposed and the decision is cast in stone and final. All these things happens each day to every disabled persons, is because we have armed ourselves with convenient myths It is observed, majority of the disability is acquired and a very small percentage of disability is congenital. This means that, disability can hit in any stage of one's life. The subject has to first accept his disability, understand what he can and cannot do, unlearn traditional ways of doing things, learn afresh to perform it differently, deal with trauma, fear and a feeling of helplessness. The situation gets aggravated when able bodied person create artificial barriers because of their lack of understanding of the subject, also because they are guided by wrong misconceptions, myths, preconceived notions unwillingness to concede to the abilities of the disabled. On the other hand, able bodied persons consider the disabled embodied with supernatural abilities and glorify mundane tasks performed by the disabled. This out of proportional attitudes causes severe trauma to the disabled persons. What is truly required, is to have an inclusive environment where the needs of the disabled persons are considered adequately when any product or infra-structure is designed and executed. This makes it easy for the disabled to engage and perform the task all by themselves giving them the right sense of dignity and making them free from dependence from other persons. We place considerable expectations from the Accessible India campaign which the government has embarked on. We seek right attitudes and we encourage movements which gives correct information about disability which are in proportion. Rather, as a part of awareness, we seek to correct the fallacies and myths which are prevailing. We seek that only the term disabled is used in all legal documents and in all official communique with an emphasis not to use patronizing terms in any official documents. Regards Harish Kotian ________________________________ Caution: The Reserve Bank of India never sends mails, SMSs or makes calls asking for personal information such as your bank account details, passwords, etc. It never keeps or offers funds to anyone. 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