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These Women Teach How To Transform Disability Into Ability





These Women Teach How To Transform Disability Into Ability

Bhubaneswar, January 19: Mamta Mohapatra of Balisahi, Puri is a 38-year-old young lady who suffers from intellectual disability. However, in the last couple of months, she has become self-dependent with the start of her small business. She has started making thread (balita) for earthen diya and earns around Rs 4000 per month.

Sharing her story, Mamta says, “I wanted to do something to stand on my feet, but had no idea about starting anything of my own. Recently I approached, Shanta Memorial Rehabilitation Centre for help and guidance. They encouraged me to start making balita. For the last three months, I am doing this and I earn around Rs 4000 every month. Every day, I make around 60-70 bundles of balita and each bundle costs Re 1. I am happy that now I am earning well and will continue this business.”Like Mamta, around 200 women and youth with disabilities participated in a convention organised by Shanta Memorial Rehabilitation Centre (SMRC) in association with US Agency for International Development (USAID) and Population Services International (PSI) here on Friday where they shared about their leadership skills and success stories.

Standing tall as an example of courage and determination, Lovharani Barik from Jagatsinghpur shared her story as she said how because of venous malformation, her life had been badly affected but she decided to fight back and started tailoring, mixture making and phenyl making business to stand on her own feet. “After my disease disfigured my face, my family members stopped caring about me. My family members used to torture me physically and mentally which is why I left my home two years back. Earning has made me confident and I want to continue this. I started with tailoring but the facial muscle growth created more problem for me as my right eye is completely closed now. Now mixture making and phenyl making is helping me earn a good amount.”Ramona El Hamzaoui, Deputy Mission Director of USAID who attended the event said, “Women with disabilities face an even more challenging set of circumstances. They are more at risk to experience gender based violence, sexual abuse, neglect, exploitation and discrimination because of their gender and disability status. We are happy to be associated with SMRC to help women with disabilities take on life’s challenge withrenewed confidence in themselves, their abilities and their dignity.”Joint Secretary of SSEPD department, Deba Prasad Dash said, “We have to make sure differently abled person get all sorts of facilities which they are entitled to get. Easy accessibility is the first thing that needs to be created so that they won’t any face problem.”Sharing some of the success stories,state head of UNDP Abha Mishra stated that women with disabilities need to be empowered and encouraged to become financially independent. The convention was attended by delegates and participants from Puri and Gujarat.

Pictures by: Rakesh Roul

Author: Monalisa patsani

Being into journalism since 2012, Monalisa loves listening to people and narrate their stories. She has been exploring different genres of journalism, but writing about the environment, places and people suits her interest.

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