Blind tablist speaks about woes of living in an insensitive society
Source: Hueiyen News Service

Imphal, December 03 2013: In spite of possessing Handicapped Card issued by the Government, handicapped persons in the State are not honoured and respected even by the police, rued Thokchom Johnson, a Balshree Awardee, who is more popularly known as Blind Tabla man.

In a tete-a-tete with Hueiyen Lanpao, Johnson observed that time has come when disabled persons felt afraid even to go out in the streets.

"Once I went with one of my well wishers for some office works in a two wheeler (scooter).

Police personnel deployed on duty in the street stopped us for checking.

Even after showing them the Handicapped Card, they took Rs 100 from us saying that the vehicle was driven without proper documents", Johnson recounted.

Johnson, who was born blind to (L) Thokchom Ranjit and Thokchom (Ongbi) Mema of Nambol, further pointed out that there are no proper facilities for blind people in the State.

Even in the education sector, the only blind school in the State has classes only upto to 10th standard.

After passing class X, blind students have to sit sit idle at homes despite wanting to study further.

Johnson informed that he finished research in Tabla and was recognised with Balshree Award by the then President Dr Abdul Kalam in 2005.The award carried a cash prize of Rs 10,000 .

Johnson is also a recipient of RK Sanatombi Award and Ngangom Thambal Award earlier.

''The Social Welfare Department had announced that it will provide monetary assistance to those disabled persons who want to get married.

Ironically, I have not received any kind of help from the department.

My wife is not a disabled person and we have been blessed with a daughter who is fortunately not disabled,'' he said.

Taking serious note over the increasing crimes and violence in Manipur, Johnson asserted that even disabled women are not safe in the State today.

Disabled women are being raped and discriminated.

Johnson called upon all such victims not to remain quiet but stand up for their rights and justice.

This way the morale of the disabled persons in Manipur could be boost up, he said.

He also lamented over the fact that there have been many movements and public outcry on various issues but the same has not been done for the rights and issues of disabled persons.

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