CHENNAI ABILITIES MELA - 15TH AND 16TH JANUARY 2005

On the lines of Delhi Abilities Mela meant to bridge the gap between the disabled/differently abled persons and the society at large another mela was organized in Chennai with the help of Business and Community Foundation and The Hindu, who sponsored the entire event.

The mela was held on January 15th and 16th 2005 at Raja Kalyana Mandapam, Mylapore, Chennai. The mela focused on the various issues pertaining the disabled and impress upon the government, industry and society for an enlightened approach and ensure the implementation of various policies for promoting the interest of the differently abled and work for a change of the mind set. 30 organizations in Chennai that work for the differently abled participated in the mela.

Objectives of the Mela

• To help in building and strengthening lobby and advocacy on various concerns of the differently abled towards their medical, social and economic rehabilitation.
• To enhance networking among the various NGOs in the field of disability.
• To encourage and enhance the self-confidence and open up newer opportunities to the differently abled.
• To showcase the potentials of the differently abled persons

The inauguration of the mela was on 15th January. Ms.N.Jayanthi, Placement & Marketing Officer, Vidhya Sagar gave the welcome address followed by the lighting of the Lamp by the dignitaries. Dr.R.Thara, Director SCARF spoke about the purpose of the mela and the objectives behind it. The inaugural address was given by the chief guest Ms.C.K. Gariyali, I.A.S., Secretary, Municipal Administration, Govt. of Tamil Nadu. Ms. C.K.Gariyali then felicitated the sponsors of the mela Ms.M.N.Nirmala, Senior Consultant, Business & Community Foundation and Dr.Nalini Krishnan, Director, The Hindu. She also felicitated differently abled individuals who have been successful in life inspite of their disability.

Felicitation of the Achievers by Ms CK Gariyali I.A.S., Secretary, Municipal Administration, Govt. Of Tamil Nadu

Inspite of the various limitations and shortcomings there are many differently abled persons who strived hard to come up in life. The disability had not handicapped them from being successful. During the mela 7 successful differently abled persons were identified and were felicitated. This was a motivation for very many disabled persons who had attended the mela.

The following were the successful individuals:

• Dr. (Mrs.). T.S.Chandra is an active member of the Association of Microbiologists of India (AMI), revived the Chennai Chapter serving continuously since 1989 as President, Vice president and secretary. Dr.Chandra's achievement has come despite severe disability due to paralysis of lower limbs due to infantile Poliomyelitis and necessity to move on a wheel chair. An inspiring article about her achievements titled 'Aparajitha" has been included in The NCERT - CBSE TEXT BOOK ON HINDI for the 8th standard continuously for 25 years since 1980. She is now the Professor of Biochemistry/Biotechnology, IIT Chennai
• P.Balagopala Kurup has held several significant postings in the Indian Overseas Bank. He was afflicted with an attack of Polio myletis, which affected both his legs. He was one of the top rank holders in his student days. He has been a guest faculty in the training colleges of several leading banks .He is currently the Assistant General Manager, Foreign Exchange Department, Central Office, Indian Overseas Bank, Chennai.
• Mrs.Rajeswari Chandramohan was born profoundly deaf with 88% decibel loss. She was the first rank holder in her 10th standard. She was the Ex- member of the State Co-ordinating Committee representing the Hearing-Impaired from 2001-2002. She is currently working as the Secretary of Deaf Adult Women Needs, a voluntary organization in Chennai, to cater to the needs of the deaf women. She also holds Indian and international driving license.
• Mr.Vasanth Kumar Devasundaram was diagnosed paranoid schizophrenia at the age of 15 which manifested as bipolar disorder after the age of 45.He was the Director of photography for more than forty feature films, twenty ad films, few social and corporate films. Presently Director, Fantas Image Pvt. Ltd.- a self owned company. He has won Kerala State award for the Best Cinematography for the film ORMAIKAL in 1983. His name has been mentioned in the Encyclopaedia of Indian Cinema (listing of award winning notable films) published by Oxford University Press sponsored by British Film Institute.
• Dr.Aiswarya Rajyalaxmi was afflicted with polio at the age of 3 and was left with a residual paralysis of both lower limbs. She had completed MBBS from Kilpauk Medical College, Chennai and is now a Senior Research Fellow, TB Research Centre, Chennai-31. She was awarded the Best woman Achiever -2002 on International Woman's Day Mar 8, 2002.
• Mr.A.K.Arunachalam was visually impaired from his birth. After completing graduation he got trained in public speech in Tamil .He is the Founder/president of the All India Blind Association in Chennai and has given training on various vocational skills to many visually impaired persons.
• K.Janardhanan, recipient of the Best Creative Child Award for 2004 from the President, A.P.J.Abdul Kalam. He lost both hands and a leg in an industrial accident. He was a student of standard 7 and does painting with his mouth for which he had won several awards.

Felicitation of employers by Ms Revathy Menon (Film Actress)

Employers employing differently abled persons were also felicitated during the mela. The felicitation was to recognize their concern in the development of the differently abled.

The employers are as follows:

• Mukthi: They provide free artificial limbs and calipers for the differently abled persons. Mukthi has employed several differently abled persons in their screen-printing, leather units, and telephone booth. They have also helped several differently abled persons to start small-scale industries.
• Laser Soft Infosystems: They have employed several differently abled persons in their firm and was one of the early employers of physically challenged and they believe in equipping ordinary people with extraordinary skills.
• TVS: They are one of India's large industrial houses. TVS from inception has been maintaining its leadership as an automobiles electrical system supplier. They have employed several orthopaedically handicap, hearing and speech impaired persons in their industries for many years.
• Ambattur Clothing LTD was started in the year1981 with one production unit, is now a US$140 million group engaged in the manufacturing of apparel. ACL is one of the leading exporters in the country with nine production facilities in India. In Chennai ACL have 9 production facilities. ACL has employed persons, who are orthopaedically handicap, hearing impaired, mentally ill and speech impaired in their industries.

Display of Individual Talent

Apart from the stalls put up by the organizations, differently abled persons having special talent were encouraged to showcase their talent. K.Janardhanan was one such person .He was the recipient of the Best Creative Child Award for 2004 from the President, A.P.J.Abdul Kalam. He lost both hands and a leg in an industrial accident. He was a student of standard 7 and does painting with his mouth for which he had won several awards. He painted with his mouth, which attracted the public.

Mr.T.S.Raman was affected with poliomyelitis at his young age. He generated electricity with the help of special herbs through which he lighted a bulb and made a radio work.

Competition for the School Children

As part of the mela, competitions were held for school students, on the topic of disability. Essay competition and slogan writing competition were held in the students' respective schools. The essays and slogans were collected from the schools and the professionals at SCARF selected the prizewinner. The painting competition was held at the venue of the mela on both the days and noted artists selected the prizewinner.

Talk of legal facilities available for the differently abled by Advocate

Advocate Chari spoke about, the goals and benefits of the Disability Act, steps taken by the government for prevention and early detection of occurrence of disability. He then spoke about the provision of employment opportunities for the disabled persons in the Act and how it protect differently abled against any discriminated at work. He educated the public about the various benefits available for the differently abled.

Conclusion

In conclusion, this mela was a grant success inspite of the short time given. Even though SCARF and the participant NGOs were involved with the post tsunami activities SCARF was able to mobilize the organizations that work with the differently abled. Large crowd of people who had attended the mela had suggested that this mela be made an annual event as it brought all the NGOs that work with the differently abled together and it provided an opportunity for the differently abled to showcase their talent.

BCF supported SCARF organize the Mela through funds recieved under the Small Grants Program of World Bank.

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