Election Observation in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP)
From the very beginning, Naeem knew that something was wrong with his vision. Bit by bit, his ability to see was going away and none around him seemed to notice it until one day they realized that he had lost his eyesight. The fate he met was far from being inevitable or unavoidable. It could have been prevented but the odds were not in his favor – perhaps, healthcare was scarce in those days or it was unaffordable and beyond the reach of his family. In his case, it seems that his parents were negligent, not informed enough about prevention or treatment interventions needed in the early stages of his illness that could have saved him from the devastating consequences of a condition that afflicts him for the rest of his life.
These are well-known and do not bear repetition. A widely shared belief in our society, for example, is that the presence of a PWD in a family is a sign of divine ‘curse’ and ‘punishment’. They are considered an unnecessary financial burden on households who go to great lengths to exclude them from the care and attention extended to other household members. Due to these negative perceptions and attitudes, most persons with physical disabilities find it hard to do well in life: they skip education altogether or go to poor-quality schools; they struggle to lend a respectable and well-paying job to support themselves financially. Most suffer from the psychological effects of not getting to socialize with mainstream society. In all, they do not get to have any life!
Naeem, born in Mansehra, a backward district in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, believed these are not reason enough to lose hope, resign to fate and stop living life to the fullest. Despite his physical disability, he has continued his quest for life and set an example for his people. Fighting against all odds, he was able to complete his university education and ended up founding an organization to protect persons with disabilities. Today, he is employed in Government Middle School in his district and is a ray of hope for many of his ilk.
“I remember a doctor telling my parents to get me out of school. He thought that I would not be able to do well in school and that it would affect my psychological and mental health,” Naeem adds.
At the outset, his prospects of living a normal and happy life seemed grim. He is the third of his six siblings – four brothers and two sisters. Two of his brothers were also physically handicapped. Growing up, Naeem says, there were no special schools for persons with disabilities in his district. Others in his extended family also discouraged his parents from enrolling him in school or spending on his education because they considered it a waste of time, money, and efforts.
His parents disagreed and had other plans – perhaps they could see potential in him. Naeem was fortunate enough to have been born into a well-off family which protected him from financial ordeals. His parents decided on giving their welfare and education. He was enrolled in a school and his siblings helped him learn the material at home. He explains, “I lost my vision, I could see but be barely able to read anything. Textbooks were impossible to read. I sat in classes, but it was difficult to read out what teachers would write on the blackboard. Back at home, my brothers made use of text magnification techniques, pen markers, etc., and taught me how to read. Sometimes, they would read out books for me.”
Naeem’s life changed when in the early 2000s he was introduced to one of his teachers – also suffering from vision impairment – from whom he learned the art of using the latest computer technology to get around learning obstacles. He convinced his parents to get him a computer and employed it to access learning materials in different formats. The computer proved significant in setting him free from his persistent dependence on his siblings. Eventually, Naeem went to a college and later passed M. Phil. in English from Hazara University. He applied for the post of in-charge in a local school and was able to lend the job.
Seeing the suffering of his ilk, Naeem and his brother decided to create an organization for working for the rights of people with vision impairment. For the past 11 years, Naeem has worked under the banner of Right to Live – an organization he now leads as a chairperson – to organize and advocate for the rights of persons. In doing so, he has worked with multiple government departments, including social welfare, and collaborated with NGOs. Through courage, fortitude, and persistent efforts he has taken up the mantle to help many like him who are suffering from sight disabilities.
“We work in the Hazara region, with a focus on vision impairment. We donate books and educational materials to those who cannot afford them. Our organization has worked with local government on reforming PWDs certification processes. We have lobbied with political parties to introduce PWD parliamentary quota in their manifesto. Apart from that, we extend financial help to children who have eye-impairment issues,” Naeem adds.
The struggle and experience of Naeem suggest that PWDs can play a crucial role in our society if necessary steps are taken to support them. Apart from social, legal, or moral arguments, an economic case can also be built for why it is high time that PWDs were mainstreamed. A genuine inclusive education and labor market, accompanied by changes in societal perceptions and attitudes, Naeem argues, is the way forward.