Srinagar: As people are struggling to make their earning and students unable to study amid COVID-19, Javid Ahmad Tak is on the forefront to help the children with disabilities by providing them monetary help and engaging in various activities.
For the last many months, children in Kashmir are confined inside four walls and have detached from studies due to COVID-19. At the same time, Tak, 44, the chairperson of Humanity Welfare Organization Helpline, has been providing all possible help to children with disabilities.
A few days before, his organization in collaboration with Azeem Premji Philinthropic Initiative Banglore organised an inclusive drawing competition at government degree college Anantnag on World White Can Day. Around 180 children from 20 villages of district Anantnag Pulwama and Kulgam participated in the drawing competition.
Ulfat Jan was declared as best Artist. She secured 1st position. Shakir Farooq from Hugam Bijbehara secured 2nd position, while Rtiza Nisar a deaf and mute girl from Arwani secured 3rd position. Five more consolation prizes were given to the juniour artists belonging to different areas of south Kashmir.
Syed Yasir (KAS), Assistant commissioner (Revenue) Anantnag threw open the ceremony. He viewed all the paintings one by one while children were drawing their drawings. Syed Yasir interacted with many children on the occasion. Speaking on occasion, he praised the working of Humanity Welfare Organisation Helpline.
“The organisation under the leadership of Javed Ahmad Tak work tirelessly for the empowerment of persons with disabilities,” Syed Yasir added. He assured participants that district administration will leave no stone unturned in the development of persons with disabilities.
A cricket match was played between cricketers facing visual disabilities on the occasion. The match was very interesting as young person’s facing blindness exposed their talent. The spectators were very much impressed by the performances of the youth facing blindness. Amir Wagay from Kanhama Shopion facing 75% visual disability was declared man of the match.
In the valedictory session Deputy Inspector General of Police south Kashmir Range Atul K Goel IPS was the chief guest on the occasion. He said that independence and dignity of persons with disabilities is a key factor for the development of persons with disabilities. He assured that mobility and assistive devices will be given to needy children facing severe visual and other disabilities.
Tak thanked all participants, volunteers from UNICEF Kashmir, childline Anantnag team, staff members of Zaiba Aapa Institite of Inclusive Education Bijbehara for their support and making the event a grand success. He explained the motive behind organising the world white Can day.
“All participants are winners. Every person with blindness should use white can and move towards independence and attain dignity,” he told news agency Kashmir Indepth News Service (KINS).
World White Can Day is being celebrated throughout globe on October 15. The objective behind the day is to show the importance of white can used by persons with visual disabilities in order to attain independence.
Despite his physical limitations, he has taken up a task to back the smile on the faces of disabled population.
“Since the COVID-19 broke out, I and my team have been collecting details about needy disabled people and then providing them financial support. We also provide eatables and medicines,” he told KINS.
His NGO is also running Zebunnisa Helpline School in Bijbehara where 103 disabled children are enrolled.
He however regrets that children with disabilities were not able to attend online classes amid lockdown.
These children have become more reclusive since the lockdown began.
Tak was not born disabled. He was a normal person and had gone to his uncle’s home in 1997, who was Block President of the mainstream party National Conference. He was then pursuing his bachelors from Anantnag Degree College in South Kashmir.
“Some unknown gunmen had come to kidnap my uncle. They fired bullets. Several bullets hit me and damaged my spinal code. I was hospitalized for two years. Since then I can’t walk and move only on a wheelchair,” he narrated. (KINS)