By: Ahmad Shabir
Anantnag: Jan Mohammad Bhat is crippled for last over a decade. He is living with a spinal injury that he suffered in a motorcycle accident near Bijbehara. However, his disability has not dampened his spirit to live an independent life.
A resident of Kandipora village of Bijbehara used to work hard by doing different small time businesses to make a decent living before his spinal card was damaged.
He was taken to different major hospitals of the country for treatment but the damage was such that doctors everywhere had only one word to say to his family that was ‘sorry’.
Jan finally had to accept the reality that he cannot stand on his legs any more.
After returning from many hospitals John remained confined to the bed for around two years.
Since Jan did not want to be burden on his family, he thought of doing something to earn for himself. He asked his family to buy him a car and got it modified. He fixed a hand control system in the car and started moving out.
After trying many business , Jan finally applied for the card to become a contractor.
After qualifying some small contracts, Jan made a good earning which encouraged him to apply for A -class card, an eligibility for applying for major contracts.
“I did never let my spirit to live an independent life die despite being crippled. I have seen many crippled people rotting in beds and becoming burden on their families. Once I left the bed I found a way to make my living,”Jan told Precious Kashmir.
Jan every morning leaves for the site in his hand controlled car and takes the wheel chair along that he uses to get out of the car.
His elder brother and other family members help him to move out of his room and then get into the car offering him their shoulders.
On his return from work, he is again helped by his family to get off the car and make it to his bedroom.
After getting up from the bed two years after remaining confined to the bed only, Jan initially made a good earning by honestly doing some works allotted to him but now he feels let down by the authorities.
“I am not the only one with disability who is trying to be independent and live a decent life but there are many others like me but the ill attitude of the authorities has let us down to the hilt.
Though the government has announced three percent reservation in jobs and many other fields, however Jan says people with disabilities in possession of B class or A class contractor cards are denied the same.
“Since there is a lot of competition in tenders everywhere we hardly get any works now. We are being pushed to live the bed ridden lives again,” Jan said.
Jan along with other such wheel chair bound contractors have been approaching heads of many departments seeking their right of 3 percent reservation in works but they are not heard anywhere.
“We are moving on wheel chairs in search of independent and decent living. Authorities should have encourage us ,” Jan says.
He wonders if the authorities want them to rot in beds. “Authorities treat us as useless lot. If it is so let them withdraw the reservation given to the disabled people in jobs as well,” he said.
He appealed the Lieutenant Governor, Manoj Sinha to ensure that the wheel chair bound contractors like him get their rights in the form of 3 percent reservation in works.
