Differently abled to be taught driving

Divya Sharma

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, June 8

Anita Sharma (36), Assistant Professor at the Indian Institute of Management-Amritsar, is all set to teach car driving to differently abled and elderly women in the city.

Being differently abled herself, Sharma is looking forward to make people with physically disability independent at her car driving school — Drive on my own.

Sharma, who hails from Jaipur, has been suffering from polio since she was six months old. “I was administered polio drops during fever. As a result, the drops reacted. I have 64% disability in my legs,” says Sharma. However, it did not deter her spirit and she went on to pursue a fellow programme in management –Indore.

“Since, I started driving, I felt a sense of Independence. I could go on my own. Earlier, any of my family members had to accompany me. I have also trained some people. Now, I want to do it at a big level. I have been driving since 2009,” she says.

Cars are converted in according to the level of disability. A lever is attached near the car steering. The lever controls the movement of brakes and accelerator.

“Under the system, the driver gets control of the vehicle in their hands. They can control brake, accelerator and clutch by using their hands. I shall be informing people also about the ways to get their cars modified, helping them meet the people concerned. Moreover, I want to focus on elderly female residents as trainers generally feel irritated while training them,” remarks Anita.

The workshop shall be run from June 20 to 30 near the Indian Institute of Management-Amritsar, but there shall be certain charges. She adds, “There are certain charges for service as I want people with disabilities to feel that being differently abled does not make them a subject to any kind of charity. All of them must feel pride in themselves. Moreover, the money earned shall be used disturb free wheelchairs.”

Sharma shall be also spreading awareness about the process of applying for driving licence and modification of cars.