Helping the disabled to stand tall

Established in 1972 by Amrutbhai Parikh, the Mook Badhir Mandal has persisted in ameliorating the lives of hundreds of deaf and dumb of the State by offering them employment opportunities. The upliftment efforts began way back in 1942 when founder member Parikh, himself rendered deaf and dumb following an illness, decided to train similarly challenged people to help them become self-reliant.

“Having faced many hardships in finding work, Parikh trained himself and entered the tailoring profession. He extended his skills to others like him. Gradually, his work gathered momentum and after consultations with other voluntary organisations, this Mandal was born,” informs Shah. The institute received its due in 1978 when it was honoured with the Rashtrapati Award as `Naukari Data’ and the same by the State government in the following year.

The Mandal has secured employment for more than 203 deaf and dumb people. “Most approach us after they have finished their schooling and have no clue about their future plans. We train them in tailoring and either get them a job at a tailoring shop or help them set up their own business in the field,” says Shah. While most companies shy from employing the differently abled, corporates like IPCL, Petrofills, Baroda Dairy, Alembic and Jyoti have welcomed them in both blue and white collar jobs, he adds.

Besides organising cultural activities, athletic programmes and country-wide tours for its members, the Mandal also runs a marriage bureau at its office premises. “We organise gatherings where young deaf and dumb men and women meet, interact and form alliances. Till date, 103 couples have tied the knot following their meeting. In nine of these matches, the deaf and dumb person’s spouse has no handicap,” says Shah.

The finer point of the Mandal, according to Shah, is that “We leave the entire decision-making process in the hands of the members. They organise the programmes themselves, run the show and also participate. In fact, deaf and dumb people from all over the State attend the Mandal’s New Year’s Eve show”. He, however, regrets the callousness of parents in bringing up such challenged children. “They can do everything a normal person can. But parents tend to think of them as a burden, someone who can never fend for himself,” he says. But going by the achievements of the Mandal members, its time the guardians rethought their verdict.