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The real able...
Union Finance Minister P.Chidambaram presenting Helen Keller Award to T.Sesha Giri in New Delhi. Photo: Sandeep Saxena.
T. SESHA Giri, as a child, was afflicted with progressive muscular dystrophy, which left him severely disabled in upper and lower extremities. Struggling against all odds, he graduated from Calcutta University and got a job in The Railways way back in 1976. And along side founded South Eastern Welfare Association for the Handicapped at Kharagpur, silently working for the disabled. Urging The Railways and the Uttar Pradesh Government to fill in the vacancies in the handicapped quota. Pressing for a special coach to be provided for the disabled in EMU locals in the suburban section of the SE Railways.
Resulting in the National Award for him in 1983 and twice the State Award in 1981 and 1991.
And chosen this year for the Helen Keller Award, Giri, in Delhi recently, says, "It is always a great moment for me because I have never expected any awards."
In the crowd of do-gooders with a heart of steel and a zeal as strong, there is Sachu Ramalingam, Head, Vision Rehabilitation Centre and Project Co-ordinator, Paediatrics, at Dr. Shroff's Charity Eye Hospital. Though infected with congenital cataract in her left eye and dense amblyopia in the right eye since childhood, Sachu is the editor of the first vision rehabilitation quarterly update in India - Netranjali. With an indeed impressive credentials of working towards rehabilitating people with disabilities, this MSc in Rehabilitation Science, however, likes to give credit to her brother for her success. "What I am today is because of my brother who helped me fulfil my ambition. When I was in 7th standard, I took the decision to be a career woman. Although, I faced problems of breaking the stereotype decisions yet the outcome is good and I am happy with it," Sachu says.
Her modesty brimming up to the top. Also selected for this year's Hellen Keller Awards given away jointly by The National Centre for Promotion of Employment for Disabled People (NCPEDP) and Shell India, Sachu is now pursuing MBA from IGNOU.
"You always have to keep adding skills to your capabilities," she flaunts her ability to being focussed ahead of many so-called abled. Even her marriage to a visually impaired, she adds, was a conscious decision.
Ten individuals
Announced on the eve of the World Disability Day at India International Centre in Delhi by Union Finance Minister P. Chidambaram, Giri and Sachu are among ten individuals and three organisations to bag the award this year. The other individuals are Jyotindra Mehta, Rigzian Sampheal, Lokesh Kumar, Ravi Arora , Anthony samy, M. Srinivas and Nishant Dattatray Mhatre.
Among the organisations are J.W. Marriott Hotel, Mumbai, Kinetic Engineering Limited and National Thermal Power Corporation Limited for doing an effort in the employment of disabled people in their work force.
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