Friends I'm sharing the take of one of my friends Shehla Shora on the video. She is sighted and has been deeply involved with us in various struggles and movements in the last two years. She is spot on I hope friends read this and share what they think?
block quote Okay, I think I have to say this. Kindness towards disabled people is all good and nice. And it is good that we have people who "rush to help them without being asked to do so", since our successive governments have abdicated all responsibility towards disabled *citizens*. I stress the word "citizen" because, honestly, we shouldn't *have to* help disabled people. There should be enough inclusive measures for them to be able to help themselves and survive without anyone's mercy, because they are equal citizens like anyone else. Now, in the absence of any inclusive measures, yes, people do and must *help* disabled people. However, this concern is simply superficial, unless we ask for equal rights for the disabled. To begin with, it might be helpful for us to look at Article 14 of the Indian Constitution, which prohibits discrimination on grounds of religion, race, caste, sex or place of birth. However, there is no provision to prohibit discrimination on grounds of disability (or sexual orientation), which is rampant. There are about 900 million disabled people in India. Unless we start treating disabled persons as our equals, our peers and as fellow citizens, all this talk about mistreating and helping disabled people is just talk. Till then, it's an act of condescension to help someone without seeking their permission first. This is as if they have no agency, no ability to give consent (for being or not being helped). Rushing in to help disabled people without being asked to also has the potential to offend them. Why should disabled persons have to live at the mercy of the society? Why shouldn't our political classes, who are drowned in black money and luxury, take enough enabling measures for them instead of relying on individual goodwill to *help* them? Saying that our people are better than people in foreign countries, where they do not rush to help them does not help unless we also see the differences in approach towards disability between our country and other forward-looking nations. May be they don't have to help them. May be they shouldn't have to. May be disabled persons should have a right to live without being pitied. block quote end On 4/5/15, avinash shahi <shahi88avin...@gmail.com> wrote: > Here you go: > http://www.ndtv.com/video/player/what-s-your-choice/what-s-your-choice-stop-mistreating-people-with-special-needs/362361?video-top-shows > > On 4/4/15, Shiv <shivrah...@gmail.com> wrote: >> Hi friends, >> >> >> >> Anyone watched the episode of Whats Your Choice on NDTV 24X7 tonight from >> 9 >> to 10 PM titled stop mistreating people with special needs. Just watched >> the >> last 5 minutes, looked truthful and brilliant. If anyone has a link to >> it, >> please do share. >> >> >> >> Regards, >> >> >> >> Shiv >> >> >> >> Register at the dedicated AccessIndia list for discussing accessibility >> of >> mobile phones / Tabs on: >> http://mail.accessindia.org.in/mailman/listinfo/mobile.accessindia_accessindia.org.in >> >> >> Search for old postings at: >> http://www.mail-archive.com/accessindia@accessindia.org.in/ >> >> To unsubscribe send a message to >> accessindia-requ...@accessindia.org.in >> with the subject unsubscribe. >> >> To change your subscription to digest mode or make any other changes, >> please >> visit the list home page at >> http://accessindia.org.in/mailman/listinfo/accessindia_accessindia.org.in >> >> >> Disclaimer: >> 1. Contents of the mails, factual, or otherwise, reflect the thinking of >> the >> person sending the mail and AI in no way relates itself to its veracity; >> >> 2. AI cannot be held liable for any commission/omission based on the >> mails >> sent through this mailing list.. >> > > > -- > Avinash Shahi > Doctoral student at Centre for Law and Governance JNU > -- Avinash Shahi Doctoral student at Centre for Law and Governance JNU Register at the dedicated AccessIndia list for discussing accessibility of mobile phones / Tabs on: http://mail.accessindia.org.in/mailman/listinfo/mobile.accessindia_accessindia.org.in Search for old postings at: http://www.mail-archive.com/accessindia@accessindia.org.in/ To unsubscribe send a message to accessindia-requ...@accessindia.org.in with the subject unsubscribe. To change your subscription to digest mode or make any other changes, please visit the list home page at http://accessindia.org.in/mailman/listinfo/accessindia_accessindia.org.in Disclaimer: 1. Contents of the mails, factual, or otherwise, reflect the thinking of the person sending the mail and AI in no way relates itself to its veracity; 2. AI cannot be held liable for any commission/omission based on the mails sent through this mailing list..
