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Photo: K. Ganesan

SURGING AHEAD Proving a point

M. Selvi and P. Andammal prove this point beyond doubt. As they switch on their sewing machines, it begins to give shape to clothes that soon enough turn into white cotton bags and gloves.

While one concentrates on their hands and fingers, their paralysed legs go unnoticed.

Andammal of Manjampatti near Chatrapatti and Selvi of Siruvalai, were both bogged down by their disability earlier.

Today they are determined to prove their potential despite their disability.

An inspiring and enterprising team of women have been brought together by S. Amuthashanthy, herself a challenged person.

“The only handicap is depending on others. Physically challenged individuals do not want any compassion or consolation. They need an opportunity to express their talents and earn their livelihood. If they get the opportunity, they prove their ability,” says Amuthashanthy, a postgraduate, running the Thiyagam Women Trust, a center for physically challenged women.

Born without her left forearm, she wants to help many physically challenged women and save them from the looks and discrimination that prevails in the society against the challenged women.

“The agony I underwent during my childhood cannot be elaborated in words. I could not crawl like other children. But a relief came to my traumatized life when I joined Avvai Ashram in Tirunelveli district,” she remembers.

After completing her masters in bank management and course in computer, Ms. Amuthashanthy began to eke out a living as an accountant in a college.

During the free hours, she ventured into rural areas, met challenged women and shared their struggles and problems.

Slowly and steadily, she began to coordinate with philanthropists and help the needy women and distribute aid to them.

Apart from the aid, the challenged persons want so much to better themselves. The image of distressed women lingered on in with Amuthashanthy’s mind as she became more determined to ensure that lack of provisions no longer hindered these women.

Ready to throw all her energy into slowly building a better future for the differently-abled women, Amuthashanthy was much against just giving away benefits. In fact, she was confident that a right push will go a long way.

Thiyagam Women Trust came up in 2005 with three machines. Today it has grown into a tailoring unit providing monetary help to 13 women who stitch 350 bags per day. It earns them a monthly salary of Rs.1,200 to Rs.1600 and more.

That’s not all the Trust does. It also treats mentally challenged girls like Kokila and Nagaselvi with more understanding and care. Since they are unable to sit on the sewing machine, Amuthashanthy has allotted them the task of arranging the finished bags in order.

Says Andammal: “I never thought that I could be a source of income to my family and take care of my mother.” Daily she changes two buses to reach her work place. That is the spirit and enthusiasm.

After gaining sufficient momentum, the trust began its computer centre for training physically challenged girls who have passed plus-two board examination.

Tamilselvi, K. Kaliammal and L. Chitra are severely challenged, are learning the basics of the computer. But with the help of a trainer from RUDSET Institute, they are able to learn the basics of the computer now.

With six students at present, the centre plans to get three more computers soon to train more interested and needy women, who will be given training from the basics before taking a course in computers.

To meet the costs, the centre also does a little bit of DTP work. Amuthashanthy says that she has made arrangements for placements too.

Amuthashanthy was also concerned about the time these women took to reach the centre even from the nearby villages.

This gave her the idea of setting up a free hostel with a good kitchen and toilet facilities to give a homely feeling.

She rented a house for the purpose and this has now enabled the six women from tailoring and computer centre to stay here free of all costs.

“Major part of the aid is provided by an ashram while food expenses are shared by all. In order to involve the parents of these women, we at times ask them to provide some help in getting groceries,” adds Amuthashanthy.

She also conducts free tuitions in nearby villages for children besides encouraging them to plant tree saplings during their birthdays.

Seeing the happy faces of the women now, Amuthashanthy asserts one does not need to be big or rich to make a difference in the lives of others.

Now, she dreams about establishing a permanent production and marketing unit for nighties to sustain their growth and income as they are solely depending on orders now. As spadework, she has already established a small unit near Anna Bus Stand.

Facing challenges is their cup of tea and they are sensible and aware not to be bracketed in the physically challenged and gender stereotypes. These women are raring to go on in achieving their full potential.

To know more about their adventures and victories contact Amuthashanthy at 6528207 or 93452-13417 or mail to challengedwomen@gmail.com

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