Skip to main content
  • Accessibility
  • Headlines
  • Coronavirus-News
  • Get-Hooked
  • Technology
  • Education
  • Employment
  • Parasports
  • Ask Bhavna
  • NHBrandView
  • Independent Living
  • Lifestyle
  • NH Videos
×
Newz Hook – Changing Attitudes towards Disability Logo
  • Stories
  • Videos
  • Inclusive
  • NH Voice
  • Login
COVID-19 Notification by Government in Accessible Format

Accessibility Tools

Text Size:

Contrast Scheme:

  • C
  • C

Reset

  • Home
  • Parasports
  • Ex Indian Armed Forces soldiers on a mission to enable disabled people to conquer land, sea & water

Ex Indian Armed Forces soldiers on a mission to enable disabled people to conquer land, sea & water

Parasports November 26, 2020
  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window)

It’s called Operation Blue Freedom and the mission is to enable people with disabilities to experience the same sense of freedom and adventure like everyone else. This is the brainchild of CLAW Global, a social impact enterprise that brings together former soldiers of the Indian Army, Indian Navy, and the Indian Air Force.

Over 50 people with physical disabilities from around the world will come together on a beach in Maldives early next year to go scuba diving. After a three-week period of intense training, they will all dive into the sea.

This is stage one of the Triple Elemental World Record in adaptive adventure sports announced by Operation C.L.A.W Operation Blue Freedom Foundation. This NGO was started by CLAW Global, which brings together former Special Forces Operatives of the Indian Army, Indian Navy, and the Indian Air Force.

A global mission, Operation Blue Freedom, aims to highlight and mainstream the abilities of people with disabilities.

Global challenge

“The scuba diving mission in Maldives will be in February or March – the date will be finalised depending on the weather conditions and participants’ convenience”, says Major Vivek Jacob, Founder, CLAW Global and a former Special Forces Officer of the Indian Army.

In 2015, Major Jacob nearly died after his parachute malfunctioned mid-fall during a combat skydive. He had severe spinal injuries and spent months at a military hospital. “While in hospital, he met an Air Force officer who was permanently paralysed in a freak accident. “He wanted to go scuba diving and that wish inspired me to start looking at ways to enable people with disabilities to enjoy adventure sports”, recalls Major Jacob.

That led him to launch CLAW Global. CLAW stands for Conquer Land, Air and Water. Major Jacob has more or less recovered from his skydive injury but remains hooked to his new cause.

Operation Blue Freedom brings together people with and without disabilities.

There are so many millions of disabled people who want to participate in adventure sports. Making this happen will require community effort and that is why I designed something that would be of value to able bodied people as well. This way everyone comes together to channelise resources towards people with disabilities. – Major Vivek Jacob, Founder, CLAW Global

Person in a wheelchair going scuba diving.
Major Vivek Jacob, founder, CLAW Global.
person with disability sky diving.

Other team members of include Special Forces veterans from the three Armed Forces.

Mission for able bodied & disabled

“Each team member had been a crack soldier in the was highly trained with multiple specialisations in mountaineering, skydiving, Scuba diving, unarmed combat, multi terrain survival tech, emergency medical response, etc”, adds Major Jacob.

Skills that will come in handy as they go through the three stages of the challenge, which involve mountaineering in Siachen glacier and sky diving in Dubai.

“This is a wonderful opportunity as it brings together people across race, religion and country”, says amputee mountaineer Chitrasen Sahu, who is among the brand ambassadors of the challenge.

Chitrasen, who has been training to climb Mount Everest, has done sky diving as well. “I was always fascinated by the defence forces and being. Part of this is like a dream come true. Freedom is my motivation and that is the larger goal that CLAW Global is working towards”.

Watch in Sign Language

Support us to make NewzHook Sustainable – Make a Contribution Today

We need your continued support to enable us work towards Changing Attitudes towards Disability. Help us in our attempt to share the voices of people with disabilities that enable them to participate in the society on an equal footing!

Contribute to Newz Hook

NH Videos

Healing pain through art - Dr. Anubha Mahajan, Founder Chronic Pain India

Contribue to Newz Hook |Disability news. Support us to make NewzHook Sustainable – Make a Contribution Today.

Newsletter

 Subscribe to our Newsletter

Want to feature disability stories or share disability news with the disabled community? Write to:

editor@newzhook.com

Newz Hook - Accessible News

Download App Now!

Videos

View More

Parasports

Huafrid Billimoria is the 1st Indian with dystonia to achieve swimming feat

Get-hooked

Understanding Pain Awareness

Accessibility

CBRF’s new short film ‘Let me in’ highlights need for accessible spaces for people with disabilities

Get-hooked

Braille Blues Daddy, legendary blind guitarist & singer is no more

Newz Hook Logo

About Newz Hook

Newz Hook | Disability News - media site focusing on Disability Stories and Changing Attitudes towards Disability globally. We highlight disability news, offer inclusive solutions and create accessible collaborations. Our focus is to have Inclusion Champions from across the globe who will share disability stories and news.
Lets come together to change attitudes towards disability!

Newz Hook is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.

Follow us on:

Related Links

  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Privacy Policy
  • Partner with Newz Hook
  • Embed Newz Hook Timeline
  • Affiliate disclosure
  • Accessibility Statement
  • Contribute to Newz Hook

Our Awards

Zero Project Award Winner 2018
Back To Top
© 2019 All Right Reserved. Inclusive News India Private Limited.

Ask Bhavna

All fields are mandatory unless specified as optional.