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Daily life still a struggle for the visually impaired in India
Anoop Kumar reports from India on the struggles visually impaired people face in their daily lives.
(Image via Pixabay)
In today’s world it is extremely difficult for people with visual impairment in India, the world's largest democracy. People face problems including mobility, recognising currency and identifying products.
The nation is about to enter its 67th year of independence, however, accessibility for the visually challenged has not been made preferential. For people with visual disability, there is not a single commodity on which the necessary details like the name of the good, maximum retail price (MRP) and the date of expiry are braille embossed.
Looking at the current scenario of the country, it is clear that Indian judiciary is very active in making people aware of their consumer rights. Regarding accessibility for the millions of blind people however, no one is showing concern.
These days, a blind person has to rely on what others tell them when purchasing a product.
Kamal Gupta, 19, believes that people are generally only satisfied when they see, hear or feel any particular thing. A person that is totally blind however has no option other than to believe what a shopkeeper says.
“Firstly on the medicines nothing is marked in braille,” Gupta said. “Medication has become a part of everyone’s life. No one knows when a person will be in need of it and even a single error could be life damaging.”
Shakul Raj Sonkar said: “being a citizen of a largest democracy in the world, I should be given full authority to enjoy equality and therefore I expect everything to be marked in braille, including posters that contain public information.”
A person should be given full authority to live their life independently regardless of visual impairment.
Though problems are evident, people have developed their own ways to overcome them.
Shivam Gupta, 19, who is completely blind, relies on tactile perception to identify objects. “I recognise the goods by touching the things to feel the pasted slips on them and by the shape, size and weight of the object,” he said. “There are chances for confusion but we have to manage with these techniques.”
The new government also promises a ray of hope for people with visual impairment. The new budget states that:
The currency notes will be braille embossed, 15 new braille presses will be established and the previous ones will be further improved.
The coming time will witness whether these things remain written in the budget or if they will be executed.
New Internationalist featured a story from Radar reporters about the oppression faced by women in India, as part of their feminism issue.
Eight women spoke about disability, domestic violence and single parenthood:
Whenever a disabled woman or girl goes out of her house or into the market, other people see her in a weird way. This makes the girl feel uncomfortable. For example, if a relative comes to the house, they say: ‘Why is she like this? What sin has she committed that has made her like this? Has she been cursed?' They also ask if she will get married: ‘Are you getting her married? How is she going to get married if she is like this? Will she ever get a good job?'
To read more visit: http://newint.org/blog/2014/08/20/india-women/
"In My Dreams I Dance": the Kenyan author battling the odds
Wanja Maina reviews the autobiography of Anne Wafula Strike, a Kenyan-British paralympic wheelchair racer and finds inspiration along the way.
Originally posted on That Girl Wanja.
As a young disabled girl, an activist on human rights and disability, inclusion and most of all an avid reader of African and European literature always looking for inspiration, I have noticed that there is a missing link in terms of autobiographies and literature written by a women with disabilities. There is a huge impact when disability intersects with gender. Women with disabilities tend to be disenfranchised and experience double the discrimination.
In my quest for literature written by women with disabilities, I came across Anne Wafula Strike. Born in rural Kenya, but now residing in the U.K., I was immediately drawn to her, a figure that has campaigned and withstood huge challenges and faced extreme adversity to shine and be a role model to millions of girls with disabilities in the world.
She has documented her life in an autobiography called “In My Dreams I Dance”. The book explores her life right from the time she was born to where she is now. An adorable mother and an irreplaceable wife. Some of the themes that come out strongly in her autobiography include (but are not limited to):
1. African perceptions towards disability
Anne became disabled at the age of 2. When she acquired polio, none of the family members really knew what it was all about. The family arranged for a witchdoctor called Solomon. He declared that hers was caused by “black magic”. The neighbours shunned them for they considered her family “struck by a curse from God,” others thought that she should die completely. Later in her growing up, especially in high school, some students did not like her partly because of her disability and partly because of their ignorance.
2. Adversity
While adversity is part of life, Anne's life has been compounded by huge adversity. At the age of 9 years, on 30th June 1979, she lost her mother who was her care-giver and that was a major blow to this young girl's life. Not only does she fall into deep grief but she contemplates quitting her school life completely. Anne was also squarely affected by the infamous 1st August 1982 coup that happened in Kenya. She describes the horrendous incidence. She also sadly describes how she was re classified from section T53 to section T54 in her career as a paralympian without a fair hearing. However this and other setbacks do not put her down.They have instead made her a strong woman who will live many years to tell her story.
3. Education
She started her education at Joyland Kisumu, a special institution in Nyanza. She was an outstanding student both academically and in leadership roles. She later transfers to Kereri Girls for her A-levels. The transition does not come easily: this is partly due to going from the friendliness in a special institution, to an all girls high school with zero disability friendliness. The WASH facilities are minimally adapted but she copes anyway. She comes out as a friendly person and describes how her friends took turns to carry her to the dormitory. She later gains admission to the prestigious MOI university where she pursues her degree. Her father, being a modest man really believed in education and Anne grows up the same. She raises the importance of education for girls.
4. Role of a support system
Throughout the book, her father is very important,a man who stood by this girl through thick and thin. Anne’s friends have been her strongest pillar and she owes to them where she is today. Not forgetting her brothers and sisters who viewed her just as their lovely sister who adapted games so that she could join in. She states that, “When you have a disability, knowing that you are not defined by it is the sweetest feeling”.
5. Right to family
Like any other woman, a woman with a disability has a desire to have a family of her own. She met a man who she calls Norman at a party. He approaches her and grinning he asked,”Did you break your leg skiing?”. coldly she replies,”I had polio as a child." Though they had a few uncomfortable minutes, they later chatted more and discovered that just like her, Norman has swum against the tide to achieve his goals. What happened between them is an amazing story of love that was culminated into a great wedding and later a beautiful son.
Anne Wafula has achieved what people said was impossible. She overcame the prejudice rife in her Kenyan village to become an award winning paralympian and went on to be the first East African to compete in her sport at the highest level. Indeed her story resonates the experiences of many persons with disabilities.
This book is a must read for all people. It is easy to understand and will keep you thrilled from cover to cover.
On Our Radar reporter Wanja Maina asks female writers from around Africa about the obstacles they face when putting pen to paper
”A story that deserves to be told does not forgive silence”
I am writing from the African Women’s Writers’ workshop in Uganda, the first ever regional non-fiction workshop for African women writers, which aims to strengthen the skills of African women to tell compelling social change stories.
The news that I had been selected for the African Women’s Writers’ workshop stunned me. I could not believe that I got through the competitive application process. For me, writing is more that putting pen to paper. It is more than sitting behind my old Acer laptop punching keys, expressing what I feel about issues and writing things that I would never feel safe to say verbally. Yet despite my love for writing, I have so few published works.
As I arrived at the workshop in Uganda, I sat by myself and observed other young women who had made it to the workshop as they chit-chatted or sat busily behind their computers. I couldn’t help but notice that the general dress code was clothes made of African fabric. The hair style? Dreadlocks dominated. I was amazed by this coincidence, making me reflect on what this fashion statement actually means. When I asked around, most explained it as a sign of African-ness and a feeling that they are confident in their skin and their origins. So perhaps no coincidence?
As the session began, we discussed an assortment of areas, from feminism, to the craft of writing, to forums and spaces where young women writers can publish their works. I asked four of my fellow participants about what is preventing African women from telling their stories.
Jen Thorpe, South Africa
Jen explained that though African women have many stories, they are rarely told. Among the reasons for this, she said, is that there is no space for mother tongue and stories that are told in other languages other than English, French and the other main languages. She also acknowledged the fact that African women and girls are socialised to be submissive and their lack of opinion on societal matters is equally reflected in the writing world.
Nana Darkoa, Ghana
Nana runs a blog that deals with issues of women and sexuality in Africa. She began by saying that in most African households women are meant to take care of the family and children and rarely do they have time to be creative and write. She added that a lack of a strong support network of women leads to women being scared of writing due to fear of criticism.
Sionne Nelly, Ghana
Sionne argues that women in the continent have a limited space in terms of access to information and resources. She also added that they have limited access to publishing spaces and that these spaces are male-dominated. She cited cases of sexual harassment by male editors and sources.
Hilda Twongyeirwe, Uganda
”A story that deserves to be told does not forgive silence.” Opening with this powerful quote, Hilda went on to argue that women can set their agenda by writing their issues, emphasising women’s importance in storytelling. She cited illiteracy and lack of confidence as the major reasons as to why African women do not write their stories.
From my perspective in Kenya, I see lack of capacity and education and lack of access to spaces for publication (whether online or print) as the main problem.
The importance of African women telling their own story cannot be over emphasised if we are to achieve more balanced storytelling. African women both deserve and need to be right at the core of writing and publication so that we can tell stories through our own lens.
Are Commonwealth Games 'a bit shit'? Radar reporters have their say
Usain Bolt allegedly described the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow as 'a bit shit', whilst in Scotland the Games have proven extremely popular, with retired swimmer Rebecca Adlington calling the games 'a huge success.'
We asked our reporters from around the Commonwealth what their communities think of the Games and the Commonwealth in general. From excitement about medal counts, to calls for the Games to be disbanded, we found a fascinating mix of reactions from Kenya, India and Sierra Leone.
India
Vaseem Chaudhary, Mumbai
I like the Commonwealth Games, as India is able to put up the number of medals on its tally, compared to any other international event - particularly the Olympics, where Indian athletes performances are always dismal and rest of nation back home plead and pray for a medal.
Indian media hype each medal earned as breaking news for the people. Keeping ourselves updated about Indian medal tallies is the norm during the games.
Commonwealth Games have a dubious association in India - when it was organised in Delhi last time, major corruption charges were alleged against the Kalmadi, coordinator of the games.
Sudhir Katiyar, Ahmadabad
The whole concept of Commonwealth amuses me and also shames me no end. It is as much an indicator of delusions of past grandeur on the part of UK, an universal human frailty I must admit, as the slave mentality of certain races of which we Indians are the supreme examples.
It gets coverage in the Indian media for the simple reason that we manage some 'gold medals', increasingly rare even at the Asian level for us. Commonwealth should be disbanded.
Kenya
Musa Haron, Nairobi
I'm not watching the Commonwealth Games - you need access to pay TV to watch. I don't see any meaningful aim of the Commonwealth Games as they don't reflect the situation on the ground. Many former colonies of Britain are still languishing in poverty.
Kenyans are more concerned with the high cost of living than paying to watch the Games.
Njenga Hakeenah, Nairobi
Kenyans will always support our sportsmen and women. Unlike football, Kenyans excel in these other sports and you'll find many supporting them. I personally love athletics. For athletics, I'll stay up late and not miss a game when time allows.
Many African countries, like Zimbabwe, would leave the Commonwealth if they had an alternative. I don't think that Africa benefits from the association. If it offered different opportunities beyond allegiance to the crown that'd be a different ball game.
The exposure for the participants is great - the more the athletes compete on such a platform, the better the exposure is. It's a platform that can be utilised to benefit the sport sector. Otherwise the Commonwealth just stands to benefit the Queen!
Sierra Leone
Amjata Bayoh and Fadda Bakish, Freetown
With the Ebola crisis, we haven't been following the games since they started.
Ebola has even affected our efforts at the games, with one of our athletes being tested for Ebola, and one going missing. People are speculating as to whether the athlete went missing because he fears returning home to the Ebola epidemic.
Containing Ebola: Keep doors open or shut up shop?
On Wednesday, Radar reporter Moses Kortu travelled to the border between Sierra Leone and Liberia, the epicentre to the Ebola virus, and discovered that authorities have conflicting attitudes about how to prevent the spread of the disease.
As well as being a crucial healthcare question, the closing of borders has also had a huge impact on local trade.
Photo credit: Anne Kennedy
On the Liberian side of the border, the policy has been to shut up shop. Esther, a Liberian immigration officer, said that 'the ebola outbreak is getting out of hand, so the only solution is to close borders.' Her message for the public is that 'everybody should remain where you are until the health term declare.'
The Sierra Leone border post, however, remains open for business. A border guard explained that 'closing the borders might be dangerous as it might lead to the increase in the use of illegal entry points, which would defeat efforts to screen people entering into Sierra Leone.'
Governments around the world are meeting to discuss how best to defend their countries against the spread of the Ebola virus, with the World Health Organisation recommending that borders should remain open and planes should fly as usual.
For more on Ebola from Radar reporters, take a look at our interactive map.
Hate leaflets and killings bring fear to Kenya’s coastal region
Calls for Kenyan government to deal with rising insecurity after almost one hundred killed in recent months
By Julius Chemitei
As tension continues to mount between different ethnic groups in Kenya’s coastal region, leading politicians from the Coalition for Reforms and Democracy (CORD) have called for Kenya’s Jubilee government to take measures to deal with the country’s rising insecurity. With nearly one hundred killings in northern coastal towns over the last three months, both locals and politicians are calling for the government to take action. With little or no action expected from the government, more and more people are fleeing in fear of fresh attacks.
Leaflets have been distributed in Kenya’s coastal region, warning the Wa Bara people from upcountry to leave the region. If the Wa Bara fail to do this, the leaflets state, they will be killed one by one and their property destroyed. The Mombasa Republican Council have denied rumours that they are responsible for the distribution of the leaflets.
Fresh attacks
On 10th July fresh attacks were reported at Panda Nguo Village in Lamu county. Houses and schools were torched, and six guns robbed from the Kenya Police Reservists. Around 60 attackers vandalised a dispensary in the area and stole medicine. Local police say no arrests have been made so far.
“We have no security at all,” said a local woman speaking on a current affairs talk show on 8th July. Residents of Tana, Mpeketoni and Hindi Lamu - three major coastal regions - feel that the government is not doing enough to track down those responsible for the distribution of the leaflets and recent killings. “I’m hiding at a neighbour’s house because I fear going outside,” she says. “There was a lorry that came carrying militia groups who said they were going to worship at the mosque. Later on they massacred people in a nearby village. The police didn’t even realise.” Displaced persons staying in Hindi Lamu prisons are also fearful that militia groups will reach them after two police stations were attacked recently.
Decisive action
As people flee from the region in fear, leading CORD politicians signed a declaration on Monday during the Nairobi Saba Saba Rally, demanding that the government take “decisive action” to deal with the rising insecurity in the country. The shadow party are calling for the government to hold “senior security officials accountable for hundreds of Kenyans who have been killed and maimed in the various attacks and conflicts across the country.”
During the weekend new killings were reported at Hindi Lamu and Tana, two coastal regions. There has been concern following a statement by the spokesperson for the Administration Police Service during a press conference on 8th July, which claimed that no reports of fresh attacks had been received.
Kenyans hope that the recent deployment of the Kenya Defense Force will help to track down those responsible for the killings and the hate leaflets. However, the fact that most of the targeted Wa Bara are farmers is a cause for concern. So long as peace is not restored, locals will struggle to feed themselves.
#GirlSummit: How can the UK and Kenya collaborate to end abuse against girls?
Political leaders, activists and citizens of the UK are joining together on 22nd July to pledge their commitment to ending child, early and forced marriage and female genital mutilation (FGM). The Girl Summit 2014 aims to "preserve girls' childhoods, promote their education, reduce their exposure to violence and abuse, and allow them to fulfil their potential in life."
In light of the ongoing debate about conflict between human rights and cultural traditions, we asked our Kenyan reporters what role they envisage the UK having in ending practices that remain prevalent across their nation.
Sidi Sarro, Mombasa:
In my country FGM has been criminalised, however this is not enough. Remember, this is an age old tradition that has been with cultures since time immemorial. Intense capacity building through sensitisation and creating awareness about its dangers is important if we are to end FGM.
Criminalising without creating awareness about the dangers associated with this violation of human rights is like moving one step forward and then three backwards.
Countries like the UK which are mostly donor countries for Africa can help set up programmes that will see FGM issues addressed or even demand for the end of FGM before they give grants to some communities.
To critics who say that Western countries are interfering in elements of Kenyan culture: times have changed. How will we achieve development goals or even our own nation's vision if we are living in the past?
Susan Yara, Mombasa:
It is not enough for people in the UK to just write articles about these practices. Something has to be done at a grassroots level. Have people here who can go to the communities who still practice early, forced or child marriages and FGM.
Carry out awareness campaigns. Teach the disadvantages of the practices. Help orphanages and homes which rescue girls who have nearly been through or who have escaped FGM or early marriage. Carry out door to door campaigns and print out posters and flyers that show the effects of these practices.
Kenyans want a hands-on project. They will relate more to people who talk to them face to face.
Our government just passes out laws against the practices, but does not carry out any campaigns. What are laws if people do not understand them? These practices are part of people's traditions. They have to understand why they are being prohibited from carrying them out.
I would suggest having both Western NGO staff and locals involved in efforts to end harmful practices. Communities sometimes believe Western NGO staff rather than their own people; they can hold Westerners in high esteem.
Underground #3: Lack of clarity in welfare services
'Underground' is a vlog series in which Radar trainee Arizona Smith explores cultural and political stories from a radical perspective.
In episode 3, she discusses the lack of clarity around accessing welfare services, which can be a hindrance to the same people that these systems are supposed to help.
Fear and determination: Kenyans split over Saba Saba Rally
Nairobi braces for unrest as the symbolic 'Saba Saba' rally is reinvoked amid calls for national dialogue over insecurity.
Julius Chemitei reports from Nairobi, with additional reporting from David Karuki, Musa Haron and Josh Ogure
In the northern town of Naivasha this weekend, the main bus terminus was a hive of activity as families rushed to board busses with their luggage, heading up country.
Despite assurance by local leaders, anxiety gripped Naivasha, a market town north west of Nairobi, ahead of Monday’s public rally in Nairobi, called for by the Kenyan coalition CORD. In the lead up to the rally, fear of erupting violence forced many families, particularly those with young children, to flee the town to the provinces where they hope they will be safer.
The rally was led by opposition political party, the Coalition for Reforms and Democracy (CORD), to mark the 1990 rally in Kamukunji which was held on 7 of July. Locally, this day is known as ‘Saba Saba’ (‘Seven Seven’). The former rally is credited with having brought about the repeal of section 2(a) of the constitution, allowing the existence of multiple political parties.
This time round CORD representatives said they hoped to push the Jubilee Government to deal with pressing national issues, including the country’s increasing insecurity, the souring diplomatic relations with western countries, the withdrawal of Kenyan defense forces from Somalia, and the state of the economy. The coalition were to use the rally to call for the government to hold a national dialogue that will bring together all sectors to discuss these concerns.
Fred Wanyonyi, a youth leader, said people won’t hold back in demanding this: ''We are coming in full force: we will do Saba Saba, Nane Saba [8/7] and Tisa Saba [9/7] until the president accepts our plea for a national dialogue.''
For those who have chosen to stay put in the urban centres, the rally marks the start of more instability for the city. “Our children and our husbands will get injured if a stampede or riot occurs,'' says Mary Wambui, a 38 year old grocery seller from Kamukunji. Matthew Njoroge, a 24 year old youth in Kibera, is equally anxious: “We are so worried about our security here.''
Memories of the rally 24 years ago are still keen. James Anuar, a 62 year-old who attended the first Saba Saba rally, says: “When the General Service Unit police came to the rally in 1990 everyone started running in different directions - that's why so many people got injured. It was all dance and glamour before we saw the General Service police.”
The anxiety is not tied to Nairobi. In amongst the heightened security alert raised by recent al-Shabab attacks, residual ethnic tension continues to murmur. Leaflets have reportedly been posted in Nakuru, Kenya, by the Kikuyu community warning people from the Luo community to leave the Rift Valley region in the next seven days. Local community members who distributed the leaflets have threatened that failure to leave will result in eviction. Already some of the residents of Rhonda in Nakuru are leaving in fear.
This move is thought to be prompted by a high level of support for CORD among the Luo community. Some communities feel poorly represented within the current government and that appointments made by President Kenyatta have favoured certain ethnicities, particularly Kikuyu and Kalenjin. Others feel that government officers provide services selectively depending on ethnicity. One of rally cries has focused on the transparent publication of political and public positions in an attempt to highlight or dispel this concern.
The police had set a 5pm deadline for the rally to break up. By 5.30pm young people protesting had been moved out of the Central Business District, Nairobi, by forces. Business had come to a standstill in the CBD due to the presence of the ralliers, the majority of which are male and aged between 20 and 30. As they left, there were reports of youth smashing the district council’s dustbins. A group headed towards Mathare slum, occupying Juja Road road; a large group, but peaceful.
Earlier in the day, a tussle had apparently ensued between the protesters and the police and the crowds were dispersed by police gunshots into the air. Earlier in the day the police reportedly used tear gas to control the young crowd.
However, across the city, many youth opted out of a rally that was so fraught with concerns and political tit-for-tat. Young men went on with their construction work by the side of the road as the city’s public transport services had slowed down even more than usual in rush hour, with bus drivers fearing that their vehicles could be overwhelmed by young protesters refusing to pay the travel fee.
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Joshua Ogure, a citizen video journalist based in Kibera slum in Nairobi, shared this short insight into 'What Kibera Thinks about "Saba Saba"'
Anger as families are denied bodies for burial, panic as patients flee hospital treatment and suspicion as schools close as a result of the disease outbreak. This map tracks SMS reports that come into Radar's reporting hub from across the country.
"I lost my younger brother...He was shot in the mouth by someone he knew."
In recognition of World Refugee Day, Sixty Kamara shares his experience of being an internally displaced person (IDP) during the Sierra Leone civil war.
"I was displaced in Sierra Leone during the civil war. I was in a gold mining district called Kono in 1992. It was not easy. You face a lot of challenges: diseases, hunger, women face sexual harassment and men face hard labour. This is all to survive. Disabled people had to beg for alms. I am disabled but I was lucky; I got a job preparing returnees' cards. But it was not easy.
I lost my younger brother, who was killed by rebels. He was shot in the mouth by someone he knew well. I was hiding close to the scene. After the ceasefire most of my friends and family returned home, and I set up a school in my village for 15 pupils."
The war, which lasted from 1991 to 2002, displaced half of the country's population of 4.5 million, forcing many to flee their home towns and cross borders into Liberia and Guinea.
Here's a sneak peek of a new project and our budding reporter networks in India...
Paul, our Editorial Lead, headed out to Delhi and Ahmedabad a few weeks ago to train citizen journalists. The reporters will be investigating modern day slavery across a range of industries, and their work will be collated on a brand new multimedia platform.
The website will launch in July, so watch this space...
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