Celebrating Corona Warriors from the disabled community

As 2020 draws to a close we look back at the people who played a defining role and touched lives in significant ways. The coronavirus pandemic was truly a testing time for India, especially people with disabilities. In the midst of their own struggles, there were many disabled people who came forward to lend a hand to the larger community. Here is a profile of some of them.

“Will perform duty to society until last breath”. – Dr Vikrant Sirohi,

Across India there are many doctors with disabilities who stood shoulder to shoulder on the frontlines to contain the spread of the pandemic. Among them was Dr Vikrant Sirohi from Bhagwanpur, Uttarakhand, who was felicitated for as a Corona Yoddha (Warrior) by the Roorkie administration

“No one was thinking about the hardships facing people in Maharashtra’s fishing communities” – Kailash Tandel, researcher, Indian Institute of Technology-Bombay

This visually impaired Ph.D. student from IIT-Bombay raised nearly three lakh rupees for people living in the koliwadas or fishing communities across Maharashtra who were affected in the lockdown.

“we decided to use those skills to make face masks for people who are poor, homeless, disabled and also migrant workers. – Fantastic Five, Sri Arunodayam Charitable Trust, Chennai

When they realised that not enough good quality face masks were available for poor and homeless people, five disabled girls from Chennai’s Sri Arunodayam Charitable Trust got together to make them as per globally approved benchmarks and distributed them to the poorer sections of society.

“Face masks made by the differently-abled to beat the coronavirus epidemic are being distributed to poor, needy, helpless people”. – Narayan Seva Sansthan, Udaipur

To ensure the safety and protection of migrant workers returning home by Shramik Special Trains as well as railway employees, members of Udaipur-based NGO Narayan Seva Sansthan stitched face masks for them.

“There are more people who will need help..I will be reaching out to all of them including people with disabilities”.- Kamaraj M, Disability rights activist

A disability rights activist from Trichy, Kamaraj reached out to the marginalised Narikurava community who were unable to make ends meet during lockdown. He provided grocery kits by raising funds with the support of friends.

Stories that highlighted how the disabled community are not takers but givers too.

Watch in Sign Language

https://youtu.be/hwp_z-We380