They show the way to the able-bodied

Fourth National Abilympics

Aarti Kapur

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, November 3

Setting an example for others who lose hope in life, Sarita Dubey of Kanpur, who lost three limbs in an accident, showed her zeal for life through colours on the canvass with her foot. Giving a tough competition to other contestants taking part in the fourth National Abilympics under the art and craft category held in Chandigarh today, Sarita was seen making her canvass attractive by rapping it with a cloth using her foot, which plays the role of a hand for her.

Making her only limb as the strength of her life, Sarita has a dream to be in the top list of participants, who will get an opportunity to showcase their talent in France in 2016.

Getting emotional while sharing her lifestyle, she said she had moulded her life in a way so that she could live like any normal person. She said she was tech savvy and made calls from her mobile by touching the touch screen with her tongue rather than waiting for somebody else to help her. Leading an independent life, she is an inspiration for her family, who supports her in pursuing her passion.

Another inspiring example is that of Ayub Khan, who is participating in the mechanical assembly of the event by assembling a bicycle. He learned the skill through sheer passion. He is the lone breadwinner for nine family members residing in Gujarat. Unmarried and differently abled, he is expert in modifying bicycles, tricycles and auto-rickshaws for the physically challenged, and this is how he supports his family members financially.

He took his disability as a challenge and started modification of tricycles, especially for the differently abled around seven years ago.

Ayub assembled his bicycle in the stipulated time of three hours and did not bother about the other contestants in the fray. He said he came for this event just to showcase his skill and prove to society that he was not a burden on it. He said given an opportunity, he would try to pass on his skills to the differently abled to make them self-dependent.

Around 410 contestants and 150 organisations are taking part in contests in 33 skills in this event. On the first day, competitions in 14 events, including artificial limb making, basket making, creating web pages, dress making, mechanical assembly, photography, poster designing, wood carving, poetry and electronic assembly were held.