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Friday March 29, 2024

‘Lip-service’ to persons with disabilities a cruel joke!

By Mobarik A. Virk
December 04, 2017
Islamabad: We in Pakistan, alongside the rest of the world have observed the ‘Day with Persons with Disabilities’ on Sunday (December 3). Functions were arranged, speeches were delivered, persons with disabilities were brought to attend specially arranged programmes. Gifts and souvenirs were presented to them. Pictures were taken. The electronic media was invited to cover these activities live or air special programmes. Promises were made. And probably would be forgotten before the sun sat on this day!
As far as we can recall, the government announced special quota for persons with disabilities in government jobs as well as the private sector was told to follow the suit too. But unfortunately I have not seen that announcement being implemented. Even by the government in its own domain.
There are thousands, or may be hundreds of thousands, persons with disabilities who are eager to fight against odds and survive honourably in the society instead of becoming a burden on the people around them or on the society.
Recently two such young men, both blind, were subjected to, what we would say, a cruel joke. Hafiz Muhammad Hammad and Muhammad Luqman, both complete blind, belonging to Ahmedpur Sharqia (East). The first gentleman has completed ‘Hifz’ of Holy Quran from a mosque in Ahmedpur Sharqia while the later is doing his graduation from the Allama Iqbal Open University (AIOU).
They approached a leading TV channel with their plight, urging the local representative in Ahmedpur Sharqia to help them get some suitable job. The media person was honest as he told them that airing a story from Ahmedpur Sharqia would not be possible and they should go to Islamabad to meet people in the Head Office.
The two young blind men managed some funds to travel to Islamabad. They were told that they will not be required to pay fare if they will travel by train because they were blind. They were happy to learn that and boarded a train. But their spirits were dampened before they were half way to Islamabad when the ‘Ticket Checker’ caught them and demanded fare because he didn’t agree with the government policy to offer ‘free rides’ to persons with disabilities!
Combined they had a sum of Rs1,500 on them which the railway official took from them and when they disembarked the train at Rawalpindi Railway Station, they were penniless! The weather in Rawalpindi/Islamabad had already turned cold beyond their expectations and they were ill-dressed too.
Still, they managed to reach the offices of the TV channel, only to be told by some persons that their request could not be entertained. With their hopes totally shattered, no money in their pockets, shivering in cold weather of Islamabad, they were ushered out on the road.
Abandoned and distressed, they stood there with no hope. And then somebody told them to go to the National Press Club (NPC) where they might get some help as well as some media attention too. The two blind young men managed to reach the NPC and some print media persons took pity on them as they were taken to a warm room, provided some food and arrangements were made for their overnight stay. The NPC also provided them some funds for their journey back home.
Fine! A nice gesture on part of all those who helped the two young blind men. Thank you all! But they were not asking for such helping overtures or money to return home. They were asking for some suitable jobs so that they could not only be independent but be able to support their families, which are living below the poverty line.
Muhammad Luqman, who is doing graduation from the AIOU, who can also operate a computer with the help of a special software ‘JAWS’ (this is what we were told by him). He said that he can help learn other children and young men/women learn with the help of this programme and can groom them to become a productive part of the society instead of become a burden on the society their families.
Hafiz Muhammad Hammad says that he can teach Holy Quran to children if he is provided a job in some school or madrassa. Well, they are entitled to these jobs under the special persons quota in the government jobs as well as in the private sector. Even some NGO can make use of young Muhammad Luqman who is graduating and knows the computer skills too. They are not asking for some favor. They are demand what the government and the society owe them!
We wonder if somebody somewhere in the government or the private sector would care to hold their hands and lead them forward in life towards a better future instead of leaving them to take to beggary. Eventually! Their contacts are: Muhammad Luqman s/o Muhammad Ramzan 0306-0677439. Hafiz Muhammad Hammad s/o of late Zulfiqar Ali 0344-9696710.