Chittorgarh: Anita’s father Kalu Lal Prajapat is a taxi driver and mother is a simple house wife. Anita’s one leg was amputatedduringtheroadaccidentwhen she was 5 years old. Her parents and relatives lost hope on her. As they concluded that no one will marry a disabled girl, they started considering her as burden for the family. Villagers always used to de-motivate her by saying that education will be of no use to her as she is disabled and she will be dependent on others always. The family and community members also said that even good education won’t help her to get a good job. Anita did not lostherconfidenceandcontinuedhereducation. CUTS Centre for Human Development, Chittorgarh staff member interacted with her and understood her innerstrengthandguidedhertobuildmore confidence. Earlier she was not associated with any Government welfare scheme. The CUTS Centre for Human Development,Chittorgarhprovidedcounsellingservicestoherandgaveinformation about various Government schemes which motivated her. After her own efforts shegotdisability certificate, pension, assistivedevice,concessionaltravelpass and also Sukhad DampatyaYojna.She became member of MewarViklangSewa Sansthan:-DisabledPeopleOrganisation (DPO).She started motivating other people living with disabilities to take membership in DPO to raise their inner voice. She raised many advocacy issues with other DPO members. She continued attended various trainings i.e skill upgradation,rightsandentitlements,leadership etc. She attended DPO meetings on regular basis and benefitting to other PWDs in nearby villages with various available welfareschemes. Shegotfreemotorised cycle from department of Social Justice and Empowerment Office for higher education provided by the Former Chief Minister visit at Chittorgarh. Now she is regular student of B.Com and has higher ambitions. She attended Skill Training on Computer Education under Social Inclusion Programme. She formed a self-help group (SHG) of particular for PWDs in her village. 5 PWDs werejoinedinSHGandencouragemembers for getting livelihood training on detergent.Afterthetraininghergrouphas started detergent business in village and earning for themselves. Recently she has actively participated in Systematic Voters Education and Electoral Participation program, better known as SVEEP, the flagship program of the Election Commission of India for People living with disabilities voter education, spreading voter awareness and promoting voter literacy in Chittorgarh District. Shehasdonewonderfulwork towards preparing PWDs and equipping them with knowledge related to the electoral process, voter registration and voter turnout, the programme was collaborati v e l y o r g a n i s e d wi th Di s tri c t Administration of Chittorgarh such as activities like rally, slogan writing, group meetings, doorto door contact with support from other DPO members. She did perform well under SVEEP Campaign, she was appreciated by the District Collector for her contribution to make Chittorgarh in top of PWDs in Greater Participation for a Stronger Democracy in Election. Her confidence was more boosted when District Collector awarded for her excellence in work. She become role model for all and became very famous in nearby areas. She also got married withNON-Disabledpersonandherfamily/villagersarehappy toseeherempowering disabled community with excellence.
Ritu Sodhi PRO, Chittorgarh
