Delhi Beat: They brave all odds

Published 01 June 2007 in The Week, by Nikita Doval.

(Click here to read from source)

When confronted with darkness, many curse it. Some light a candle to dispel it. And then they work hard to dispel the darkness in the lives of others.

...Helping the needy is a pleasure for Shivani Gupta, too. She was confined to a wheelchair after an accident at 22. "It takes time to come to terms with what has happened to you but it is important that you don't wallow in self pity," says Shivani. "I realised I needed to work but I could not get a job anywhere except in the NGO sector. In the meantime I tried things like painting but it was not a real job."

Shivani's search for employment led her to the Indian Spinal Injury Centre and soon she flew to the UK for a course in peer counselling. She underwent training at the UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific in a non-handicap environment and went on to study accessibility architecture in the UK. "I studied in an inclusive environment which means that everything was disabled-friendly," says Shivani, who runs a consultancy firm called AccessAbility in Delhi. She chose not to set up an NGO because "we wanted the focus to shift from charity to professionalism".

AccessAbility provides advice on how to create barrier-free environment and buildings. "Places might be disabled-friendly but if they get the basics wrong, then one cannot do much," says Shivani. "For instance, in the New Delhi railway station, there is a ramp for the wheelchair-bound but entry to that is through the VIP parking which costs Rs 50. Not everyone can afford it. Accessibility is not seamless. There might be ramps but just in front of the washroom or some other facility, there will be a little step. We need to iron out such issues."

Shivani now plans to create a pool of disabled people for prospective employers. "The attrition rates are low, they are very focused and very hardworking," she says. "Many corporates have expressed willingness to hire disabled people but they don't know how to. I will try and bridge that gap."...

People like the Shivani are extraordinary for their missions in life. It is not easy to find time and space for others-human beings. They manage to do what is impossible for many with a quiet dignity and sincerity.