Excelsior Correspondent
Srinagar, Nov 29: Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in his ‘Mann Ki Baat’ programme, today highlighted the contributions of Javaid Ahmad Tak of Bijbehara area of Anantnag district, for working for the disabled people.
Tak was shot at by gunmen in 1996 and became disabled as he suffered spinal injuries. “He lost the capacity to stand on his feet again… The biggest thing was that an innocent had to suffer in such a manner, his youth was endangered but there was no anger or outrage,” the PM said while narrating Tak’s story.
Prime Minister said: “But he did not accept defeat… He converted this crisis into opportunity to serve the masses and devoted his life to social service. For last 20 years, he has been teaching children. He is also working to see how the infrastructure for the disabled can be improved, including in public places and Government buildings….”
The PM said Javaid become a ‘messiah’ for the disabled people. The PM announced that his devotion is being specially remembered on the occasion of ‘Disability Day’ on December 3.
Speaking to Excelsior, Javaid said that he wants Government to take steps for the empowerment and rehabilitation of the disabled and make them independent in every sector. “I am not happy because my name was mentioned by PM but because he spoke about disabled. This is a big thing for me,” he said.
Referring to December 3, he said that he hopes that PM “would announce something big” for disabled on that day. “We want that some serious steps should be taken. We should not be left charity oriented but we should be made in every sector. These sectors should be made accessible to disabled people. We have no independent access to Government offices, colleges and schools. If we talk about Civil Secretariat, we are harassed there and we are subjected to unnecessary questioning. This should stop and this is where changes should be made,” he said.
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