JEDDAH, 25 April 2006 — The director of India’s National Center for Promotion of Employment for Disabled People, Javed Abidi, called for a change in people’s perception of disability. Wheelchair-bound Abidi, addressing a gathering here Friday said people’s attitude toward the disabled in India is distressing and frustrating.

“Despite the large number of disabled people in the country, they are not aware of their problems. They have no perception of the disability and so they are mere spectators. Sometimes people take them as people with no significance and try to ignore them. Others sympathize with them. However, they are not prepared to recognize them as respected people.”

He said that the government’s attitude toward disabled people has never been good. The government does not take these people as respectful citizens. Abidi, however, was of the opinion that things have started moving though, slowly, and now an awakening about disabled people’s right and privileges are taking place in India.

“Over the last few years the perception is changing, though slowly. The common people now seem to be coming to a stand that these people too deserve respect. The people and authorities are realizing that we too can deliver what others cannot do.”

Abidi appealed to the Indian community in the Kingdom to rise to the occasion and provide facilities to those who are disabled. A senior Indian physician Dr. M.H. Maniyar made an impassioned appeal to Consul General Ausaf Sayeed to restart the Special Care Center, which was started in 1999, in the Indian International School, Jeddah, but is now defunct. Dr. Maniyar’s call was seconded by many including Abidi.

Ausaf in his address assured that “he will look into the matter and do something concrete on this front.”

To begin with the consul general assured to make arrangement as soon as possible, for an ambu-lift for a disabled child studying in the IISJ. The matter of the disabled student, who was facing problems to go to the first floor of the school, was raised before him a few days ago, Ausaf said. The consul general instructed one of the IISJ MC members, Aziz Kidwai, to immediately make provision for it.

Abdul Ghafoor Danish introduced the guest and conducted the proceedings of the function.

Abidi was in the Kingdom on the invitation of Prince Salman Center for Disability Research, Riyadh.