eyeway.org : beyond the I : issue 5 : focus : voices of people: sports

Beyond the I masthead
an online magazine from eyeway.org

issue 5 july-august 2005
click here to browse other issues

Voices of People: Sports

Eyeway asked some people what being a blind citizen of India means to them, with a focus on one specific aspect of life.

Ravinder Singh Nager
An international level athlete, who is currently a physical training instructor at the Blind Relief Association, Delhi

Our duties and ambitions for the country are no different from that of the sighted.

Last year, the Olympic flame had come to India for the first time, and I had carried it on behalf of my fellow Indians. Similarly, when I was in school or college, I was the best athlete. And I am talking about competing with the sighted here. People would refuse to believe that I couldn't see.

I feel that sighted sportspersons should look at their counterparts in the visually- or otherwise physically-impaired categories. They should feel that if a visually-impaired person can bring in medals for the country, why can't they. I feel that I should do the utmost I can for my country. And that I should coach my students in such a manner that they achieve far more than I have.

There is very strong discrimination against disabled people in India . The government and public agencies give jobs on the basis of reservation for sportspersons. But the visually impaired just do not get jobs. If you are hearing or speech impaired, the situation is only slightly better. It's very discouraging. Even the younger generation feels that they should not waste time practicing for sports because they are not likely to get jobs later. They might as well use this time to study and earn better grades.

Mail this page to a friend