HELPING OTHERS, DESPITE ALL ODDS

A QUADRIPLEGIC,HAS BEEN MAKING A DIFFERENCE TO THE LIVES OF THE DIFFERENTLY-ABLED BY PROVIDING THEM EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES.HE TALKS  ON WHAT KEEPS HIM GOING

 

HE has been confined to a bed for over two decades, but that didn't stop Rajinder Johar from helping hundreds of differently-abled individuals live an independent and financially secure life. Not only has he made these people self-reliant, he enabled them to take care of their dependants as well.
   Johar was working as a senior occupational therapist at King George’s Medical College in Lucknow, when an injury to his spinal chord in 1986 rendered him quadriplegic. But, despite that he continued serving the differently-abled. In 1992, he formed Family of Disabled (FOD), a voluntary organisation aimed at serving the differently-abled by helping them find employment. With the help of a few volunteers, FOD even set up the Apna Rozgar Scheme in 1998 to help those below the poverty line.
   According to Johar, “The condition of the differently-abled is not so encouraging, even today and thus, our aim was to help them seek self-employment. As some of these people are neither literate nor financially sound, finding employment is crucial as they also have families to sustain.” He claims that so far nearly 400 people have benefited from FOD's self-employment scheme. He informs: “They choose the work they want to do and we provide them financial aid and other resources. We also give them loans that they can repay when they have earned enough.” He added that while some of these people were once earning a mere Rs 1,500-2,000 per month, today their monthly income is as much as Rs 6,000-11,000.
   In 1992, using two fingers and a thumb to type, Johar began a bi-annual magazine, The Voice. The objective of which, he said, was to create awareness among the masses and to sensitise them towards the differently-abled. He has won several awards, including the Helen Keller Award in 2003, National Award, Red and White Bravery Award for his selfless services to the differently-abled — something he doesn’t plan on stopping any time soon.

ART EXHIBITION


FOD is organising an art exhibition, Beyond Limits-2008, from October 1-7. A group of 35 differently-abled artists from different parts of the country would display over 100 art works at Arpana Art Gallery.
   “It is any artist’s innate desire that his/her work get displayed and appreciated. But, for the differently-abled artists such opportunities are limited. So, this exhibition is aimed at providing them an opportunity to be acknowledged and appreciated. This will help impact their psyche in a positive manner and make them perform better.”
   This exhibition-cum-sale, the fifth so far, will see 80% of the revenue go to the artists. And as Johar said: “The motto should be ‘look at my strengths and not my weaknesses.’ It is unfortunate that disability is considered to be a weakness, as it can just as well be turned into an asset.”