Disabled youth scripts a tale of grit
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, November 29 2014 :
Where there is a will there's a way; being a differently abled person never discouraged Abujam Arunkumar to face the challenges in life.
Like many other differently abled persons who are earning their livelihood through different occupations, he has also shown the way to lead a dignified life by adopting the occupation of making bamboo household items.
Hailing from Pangaltabi Mayai Leikai in Bishnupur district, 22-year-old Arun-kumar is the son of Abujam Inaocha and Abujam ongbi Sobita.
Arunkumar lost both his legs when the bus he was travelling in met with an accident in 2012 .
However, the catastrophic incident could not discourage him in facing the challenges of life.
The brave young man not only continued his studies but also decided to supplement his family income by taking up the occupation of making bamboo household items.
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Arunkumar is now a BA 3rd semester student of Kakching Khunou College and he currently makes different types of polang (bamboo basket), mora (bamboo stool), flower pot and fishing items.
Arunkumar said that he takes three days for big moras and two days for small one.
Conveying that his hand made items are mainly sold in his locality and adjoining areas, Arunkumar said that he can easily earn Rs 3000 to Rs 4000 from his occupation every month.
However, he is unable to supply these items in bulk as he has to attend college classes as well, Aunkumar said.
He added that he started learning to make different bamboo items from one of his uncles when he was in Class VI .
After the fateful incident of 2012, Arunkumar began dedicating most of his time to this occupation.
On the otherhand, despite all these fruitful efforts, he has not got any assistance from the Government.
Arunkumar said that the Government provides assistance only to those individuals who are acquainted with the proper channels of these schemes.
However, many genuine disables who do not know much about Government schemes are always left out, he lamented.