Vocational Rehabilitation Centre for Handicapped in Bhubaneswar is engaged in the noble mission of creating a sunnier tomorrow for the differently-abled, especially youngsters, and the centre’s assistant director is an epitome of selfless service. A report by RASHMI REKHA DAS
For 122 students, Vocational Rehabilitation Centre for Handicapped (VRCH) in Bhubaneswar is a home away from home. They cherish the cordial atmosphere here along with their peers. Many training institutes impart skill trainings, but very few training providers like VRCH focus on providing life skills to students to help them lead a balanced, successful life with dignity. This, at least, is what VRCH students feel. The institution provides all sorts of help to students to equip them in this dog-eat-dog world and help them find a job.
Every child is born special and unique. Some are healthy, strong and physically capable of doing anything while others are blessed with special conditions that make them specially-abled people. Raising a differently-abled child is tough and challenging, especially when the parents are resentful. A feeling of disappointment and continuous stress has to be put up with on a daily basis. Giving the support the child needs every day can be very depressing. Resentment can be experienced for the first few months after the child is born. Some parents are resentful till they die. It is very important for parents to understand that if rejection continues to happen, the child will feel rejected and lonely. Do not let your child feel so when VRCH is there.
Gone are the days when differently-abled children were regarded as people with limitations who, it was believed, could not ensure a reasonable life for themselves because of their impairment. It is society which constructs economic, social, legal and cultural barriers in order to deliberately prevent people with impairment from enjoying benefits due to them. People with impairments of some kind or the other, much like the poorest of the poor and the weakest of the weak, much like the socially, educationally and economically disadvantaged, have full right of self-expression. Their right to self-assertion, identity and development can never be compromised. “Never underestimate the power of differently-abled people,” says VRCH assistant director Ram Kishor Sharma, the man whose dream it is to stand by unfortunate people in a cruel world.
As many as 17, 094 students who passed out from VRCH have found jobs and are living an independent life. Sharma claims he believes in empathy and not sympathy. Let’s have a look at how the institution builds confidence in students to stand up on their own.
Everything is free here. Each student gets free admission, free training and free accommodation and `2,000 stipend per month under ‘Mission Employment’ during their training period. They are given kits like wheel-chairs, tri-cycles, electronic tools worth `7,000, carpentry tools and sewing machines at the end of the course. Apart from the kit which is a livelihood support, students are given a fixed deposit each so that they can use the money to set up small businesses to support their families after the course.
Started in July 1983, the main purpose of the centre is to evaluate the capabilities of differently-abled children. It also sponsors candidates to potential employers. Besides, the objectives of the institution are a) to evaluate persons with disabilities (PWD) and to help them unfold their full potential, and b) to ascertain the medical, psychological, social, vocational and economic needs of PWDs for mainstreaming them successfully.
What is interesting about the institution is that it does not differentiate between categories of PWDs. It believes in cross-disability culture and thus offers service to individuals with locomotor disabilities, cerebral palsy, hearing impairment, low vision, blindness as well as the dumb and deaf.
It provides training on dressmaking, computer fundamentals, domestic appliances and soft skills. VRCH in collaboration with Directorate for Welfare of PWDs, Woman and Child Development department organises skill development programmes.
Besides, disabled students have a reason to cheer as VRCH is going to launch three new trades – mobile repairing, computer hardware and beauty parlour. According to VRCH assistant director Ram Kishor Sharma, a proposal has been submitted to the Directorate of Mission Employment in this regard.
Without exaggeration it can be said that Bhubaneswar-based VRCH has become a helping hand for many youngsters who think disability could be a barrier to success.
According to sources, there are 17 such centres across the country. Bhubaneswar-based VRCH has been a boon for differently-abled children. Since its inception 68,811 people were evaluated of which 17,094 – 13, 269 males and 3,825 females – have been rehabilitated. The institution acts under National Employment Service. It ensures employment for each and every student. Besides, it is committed to provide a better lifestyle to students.
VRCH holds camps at 279 blocks across the state to identify students with special needs. It’s a reach out and reach in mechanism that the institution follows to identify people who need special care. It holds monthly tests to review progress of students. Besides, students have to appear for the examinations at the end of the course. Age is no bar. People between 15 and 50 years are imparted training. Fifty per cent of the seats are reserved for women.
Sharma feels that without government support it would not have been possible for VRCH to provide quality service to students. Especially, the support the institution has received from the state government is appreciable. The state government has recently sanctioned `2.7 crore for the setting up of a hostel; it has already released `1.50 lakh for the cause. On March 27 a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment and Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship and `100 crore was allocated for skill development. This year, 38 students out of 95 computer students have got jobs, says Sharma.
Grateful souls
Surya Sahu from Nayagarh feels thankful for having got the opportunity to express his feelings for VRCH. Sahu who suffers from an orthopedic impairment says “VRCH has changed my life. Now people know who Surya Sahu is. It is because of VRCH. I took computer training at VRCH. I participated in Abilympics held in Kolkata and Delhi thanks to VRCH and won gold medals twice in 2000 and 2003. I secured the fourth position in Abilympics held in Delhi and, unfortunately, could not qualify to go to Japan. Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik felicitated me for my achievement. It made me feel so proud. Now, I am working as a DTP operator-cum-office executive at ITER Engineering College. My monthly income is Rs15,000. I am leading a happy life,” says Sahu.
Jyoti from Puri says, “My village is situated in a remote area in Puri. After matriculation I pursued Plus II and Plus III in a private college as my village did not have good communication facilities and it was difficult on my part to travel far because I am a polio-stricken girl. When my elder brother started living in Bhubaneswar he took me along with him. It was there I came to know about VRCH. I took admission and received training in typing and stenography. Now I am posted at the Office of the Chief Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities.”
Take Sadananda Parida, for one. Hailing from Chhanagiri under Tangi block in Khurda district Sadananda was unhappy with life and searching for a reason to lead it properly. After matriculation he could not decide what to do next. VRCH came to his rescue. He received training in radio and television repairing. As Parida was good at repairing electronic gadgets VRCH appointed him as a trainer. Apart from being a trainer, he also runs a repair shop from which he earns a decent `10,000 a month. He gets a handsome salary from VRCH.
Although Md Jafar Iqbal is not directly connected to VRCH, its role behind his success cannot be ruled out. Iqbal who is famous as an all-rounder part of the Indian Cricket Team of the Visually Impaired and captain of East Zone Cricket Team of the Visually Impaired and captain of Orissa Cricket Team of the Visually Impaired, says, “Sharma sir promoted me and encouraged me a lot which is why I am leading a blissful life today.”
Iqbal is also working as a procurement officer in Food Corporation of India.
Honing skills
He is a man who has committed and devoted his life for the well-being of youngsters with special needs. He is a man who is behind the success of the institution. VRCH assistant director RK Sharma says, “Yes, without team support it is not possible to achieve success.” He plays a crucial role in boosting the morale of students. His down-to-earth nature and ‘can do’ attitude motivate students.
“Parents consider spending money for differently-abled kids is expenditure while they feel spending money on other fortunate kids is investment. They love to invest on such kids in the hope of return. I want to convey a message to everyone. Do not neglect the differently-abled because they, too, are very productive. Co-operate with them and accept them in large numbers in every office, institution, school and college. Besides I would also like to appeal to bankers to permit 3 per cent reservations for PWDs under the Pradhan Mantri MUDRA Yojana,” says Sharma.
Sharma, who is a writer too, has been felicitated by President KR Narayan for his outstanding service for uplifting the lot of PWDs. He has written eight books. Despite being a native of Uttar Pradesh, Sharma loves Orissa and its people. Although he has received many lucrative job opportunities, he has rejected all offers. His dream of creating a beautiful world for the differently-abled sustains his life and activity.