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Resource centre on India's rural distress
 
 

Gender discrimination haunts the visually challenged too by Vasudha Venugopal

Usha Thiruvengadam, a trained Carnatic vocalist and violin player, has been searching for a job in government-run schools as a music teacher for the past five years. Her struggle for a job despite her disability has earned her a great deal of respect from many of her friends. They also note: “Her husband did not marry her for the assistance. He takes her everywhere.”

For many other visually challenged women, trusting the spouse, siblings and society is getting increasingly difficult. “I get plenty of cases of women abandoned by their husbands. Even for many families, a visually challenged girl is a liability who needs to be married off as soon as possible. There is very little focus on education,” said N.S. Venkataraman, trustee, Nandini Voice for the Deprived, at a discussion recently.

The cases of men leaving their wives gain more significance in the context of the State government's scheme under which Rs.20,000 is given to the person without any disability who marries a visually challenged person. “There are many broken marriages like that, which need to be looked into,” added Mr. Venkataraman.

“Instead of allowance, one of them can be given job in government according to the merit. This will ensure that such marriages remain stable,” suggested a participant.

It was pouring, but that did not deter the 22 women with visual disability from far-flung areas such as Avadi, Tiruvallur and Maduravoyal from making it to the meeting, which, as one of the participants described it, was one of the few where they get to speak about their problems. Banks, said most of the women, are where they faced many problems. “Nationalised banks have very considerate rules, but they are not being implemented,” said T. Meenakshi, a school teacher. “Bank managers insist that someone accompany us all the time,” she said.

Availing oneself of loans for starting entrepreneurial activity is always a Herculean task, but even procuring an ATM card is difficult. Many banks have not installed mandatory talking ATMs and so they deny us the card facility, she said. “The situation worsens when the bank managers refuse to meet us and insist that we should talk to clerical staff, who, in turn, say that they do not have the necessary authority,” she added.

“We do not want sympathy. We want only understanding and a place to live with dignity,” said the women. Denial of hostel rooms has increased travel time for many of these women. This has increased the possibility of instances of molestation. “Many women face it every day, in buses, on streets, but they do not talk about it because they are never heard,” said Mr. Venkataraman.

“Even the Disability Advisory Committee has only male representatives. ,” said Parameswari, a student of Ethiraj College for Women.

Shortage of Braille books in schools and colleges, reluctance of the private sector to employ persons with disability and need for procedural transparency in the filling of government jobs were highlighted by these women. “The announcements in railway and bus stations are made only a few minutes before the arrival or the departure of the train or bus. A guidance counter for visually challenged persons will be of great help,” said Ms.Parameswari.

“It is the general lack of respect for us in the society that concerns us the most,” said Shyamala, a student of Quaid-E-Millath Government College for Women.

After the debate, as the women waded through the flooded streets of Besant Nagar, gesturing at every passing car to stop, it was the indifference of those around that stood out the most. “Very few help, especially when we need it the most,” said Ms. Shyamala.