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By Huned Contractor The World Social Forum 2004 (WSF), which began in Mumbai on January 16 and will go on till the 21st, has had its share of brickbats. Particularly from the 300-odd physically disabled delegates who have repeatedly organised protest rallies to the Media Centre to put their demands forward. "The organisers had promised to make proper arrangements for the disabled, but, except for giving us a measly time slot of three hours to present our woes and conditions, they have completely ignored us," says Javed Abidi, executive director of the National Centre for Promotion of Employment for Disabled People.
Considering that almost 6% of the country's population is physically disabled, the insensitivity of politicians, bureaucrats and the public at large is what hurts activists like Abidi the most. "The reality is there for everyone to see and yet everyone chooses to ignore it. This is really sad and we did not expect a social forum to be as insensitive too," says Abidi.
In terms of statistical data, only 2% of physically disabled children have access to education; those who enrol at special schools are unable to pursue their academic interests because of a lack of integration with mainstream institutions that provide higher education. "The biggest mistake on the part of the government was to allow the establishment of such special schools. Also, why can't colleges be structured in such a way that those using wheelchairs can make their way to classrooms, libraries and toilets" asks Abidi.
Only 1% of disabled people are able to find jobs. This, despite the fact that the government has set up 28 employment exchanges to source employment avenues for the disabled. Moreover, the 3% reservation of jobs in the government sector is only for Class III and IV jobs. "Which means," Abidi explains, "that the physically disabled can never aspire to be officers but have to be content with clerical openings."
The discrimination was recently reflected in the case of two youngsters who qualified for the Indian Administrative Services but were given the option of the Indian Information Services (which is several notches lower) because they were victims of polio. As Abidi puts it: "There are too many factors related to disability which need to be investigated. For example, the government of Maharashtra is yet to appoint a full-time disability commissioner although the Law of Disability, passed in 1995, clearly mentions the need for one."
Shifting focus to the WSF, Anita Ghai, a reader in psychology, is upset about the fact that there has been so much talk about creating another world, without taking into account the presence and rights of the disabled. "What kind of a world do they want to create? One that will have no place for the disabled? Would it be better for us to die than be a burden on society," she asks.
The protests have, meanwhile, have prompted a representative of the WSF organising committee to take cognisance of this serious lapse. Promises have been made about including it in a report that will be used as a basis for the next world social forum. (InfoChange News & Features, January 2004)
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