Garima - Empowering Persons with Disabilities through Livelihood Enhancement

The Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016 has been implemented in the country to ascertain a life of dignity for persons with disabilities. The majority of PwDs live in rural areas and with infringed access to opportunities and resources and the day-in and day-out struggle for identity takes a toll on their situation.

Livelihood, poverty and disability are very intricately interdependent. Poverty leads to disability and the converse is true too. Dignified, steady and sustainable source of livelihood can, to some extent address this issue.

The total population of PwDs in Gujarat is 10.92 Lakh. 61 percent of these are in the employable age (18-59). Out of these, 35 percent are employed, and 65 percent are unemployed. Wage employment, self-employment through skill development, vocational training, strengthening of traditional sources of livelihood needs to be focused upon. Low level of employment and education level necessary for a decent life are leading towards poverty and marginalization, underdeveloped human resource, loss of output from productive disabled people impacting society and economy at large, especially for women with disabilities.

Aatapi Seva Foundation initiated its intervention with persons with disabilities in 2008-2009 when in Baseline survey of 4 villages of Jambusar block, 206 PWD were identified and it was revealed that they were deprived of basic identity and rights and entitlements which extended from 13 to 45 villages.

AATAPI engages with PwD to create awareness about their rights and entitlements, government Schemes, laws related to them and nurture leaders amongst PwD to be a bridge between village and district agencies for accessing entitlements. Block level Taluka Sangathan – Viklang Parivartan Sangathan, has created a platform for them to take leadership in voicing out their needs to the state level.

Capacity building of persons with disabilities, access to opportunities for livelihood is critical. AATAPI supports through nurturing small businesses, entrepreneurship skills, job linkages, skills training, apart from strengthening of traditional sources of income – agriculture and animal husbandry.

With the help of the district administration of Bharuch, the initiative is taken to create livelihood opportunities for women with disabilities. In this livelihood opportunities based on their context and realities with technological support are envisaged. One such intervention is "UNNATI PATH"- a tea stall run by women with disabilities at the Mamlatdar office which will provide value-added services to its customers, such as home delivery of hot snacks, etc.

Apart from the overall improvement in access to rights and entitlements among persons with disabilities in the block, PwDs with respect to livelihood and economic development engaged in the strengthening of traditional sources of livelihood- animal husbandry and agriculture, initiating small businesses and seeking learning opportunities for skill development. 90 such men and women are now engaged meaningfully in economic activities.

At all platforms, village, block and district level, PwDs are voicing their issues. There are now models of change among PwDs who are a source of inspiration for fellow citizens.