Children of lesser gods
- Hueiyen Lanpao Editorial :: June 15 2012 -

Albert Einstein had learning disability and did not speak until he was three years old but he went on to become one of the best known scientists of all time winning the Nobel Prize for Physics in 1921.

Helen Keller was blind, deaf and mute, but she became the first deaf and blind person to be awarded a Bachelor of Arts degree.

Stephen Hawking is an internationally renowned physicist / mathematician who suffers from Motor Neurone Disease, but at 35, he became the Cambridge's first Gravitational Physics Professor and received the Lucasian Professor of Mathematics Award.

Albert, Helen and Stephen are among the many world's best known high achievers with disabilities, whose lives and works have inspired millions of people, with or without disabilities, around the globe.

The story of our own Lonchongpulu Golmei of Sangaiprou Kabui village may not come close anywhere to these high achievers and it may be far-fetched to even think of a comparison.

But her struggle and achievement is not lesser. Though born with symbrachydactyly (a medical condition in which a child is born without fingers) and orphaned at an early age, Lonchongpulu, who also became a widow at the prime of her youth, defies all odds and brings up her younger brother and daughter, single-handedly and fingerless-ly.

As they say without trials and tribulations, no one can become a Buddha; Lonchongpulu never gave up and turned her limitations into opportunities. Apart from living her life to the fullest, Lonchongpulu philosophies on the mystery of life and proudly says, "With God giving us the chance to live, we should live with our heads held high, instead of feeling dejected over being born as a disable".

There are many people like Lonchongpulu in our midst, and what they need is our support and encouragement. The Government has also launched various schemes for the welfare and empowerment of persons with disabilities in the society.

Assistance to Disabled Persons for Purchase/Fitting of Aids and Appliances (ADIP) Scheme, Deendayal Disabled Rehabilitation Scheme to Promote Voluntary Action for Persons with Disabilities (DDRS Scheme), Scheme of National Awards for Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities, Scheme of Nationsl Scholarships for Persons with Disabilities and other schemes arising out of the implementation of the Persons with Disabilities (Equal Opportunities, Protection of Rights and Full Participation) Act, 1995, which includes incentives to employers in private sectors for providing regular employment to persons with disabilities, assistance for setting up of District Disability Rehabilitation Centres, Regional Rehabilitation Centres, creating barrier free environment in public buildings, awareness generation, etc, are just some of the Centrally sponsored schemes for empowerment of persons with disabilities.

However, in most cases, we have seen that the benefits of these schemes do reach the intended target. Even in the case of Lonchongpulu, we have learnt that she has not received any assistance from the side of the government.

Why this is happening? The responsibility of the department concerned should not end with conducting assessment camps and issuing disability certificates.

It should ensure that the schemes are properly implemented and persons with disabilities get their due rights and benefits so that many a Lonchongpulu can went on to become another Albert Einstein, another Helen Keller or Stephen Hawking.