Helping others despite his disability

By Jangveer Singh

"Nobody bothers. Nobody understands. I feel miserable and worthless.I feel I cannot contribute anything towards the betterment of society".

Vishal Mohindra,a 25-year-old kidney transplant recipient, is not always so despondent.Such words come out in moments of acute depression as he tries to grapple with the machinations of society and red tape in government offices to contribute to a common cause despite his handicap.

Vishal’s poor health — he is currently suffering from cataract, besides some skin problems — does not deter him from helping other persons who have had a kidney transplant following renal failure. He fought a two-year battle to get a disability certificate and is currently helping other recipients to get their disability certificates, which will make them eligible for reservation in government jobs.

Vishal, who is also in the process of forming an organisation to help kidney recipients, feels society has largely been unkind to them. "People must understand that transplant recipients are not the same emotionally and physically as they were before surgery. They are prone to diabetes, cataract, weakening of muscles and skin problems, besides kidney failure". He says he took up the task to help others who are in a similar predicament as the authorities concerned are still not offering appropriate services for such recipients.

Speaking about his activities,Vishal says he came to know he was eligible for getting a disability certificate after reading about a High Court ruling in 1995 which said people with one kidney should be considered physically handicapped. On coming to know this, he approached the civil surgeon for issuing such a certificate. After a number of requests during which a medical board was also set up but which did not examine him, he was told to locate his file in the office of the Director, Medical Health. There, he was referred back to the civil surgeon. "I eventually got my disability certificate after much harassment", he informs.

Vishal took upon himself the task of helping others after his experience at the hands of authorities who at one time also told him he could not be eligible for the certificate as his two kidneys, which had completely shrivelled, had not been taken out of his body.

After coming to know of any kidney recipient, Vishal gets the required forms for him and most of the times even gets the documents attested. Despite his poor physical condition, he often travels to Sangrur and nearby areas to interact with kidney recipients and get their work done. He, however, feels bad that the recipients often use the certificates to get income tax exemption and other benefits, while the really poor, who could benefit the most by getting the disability certificates, are unable to get them.

Citing cases in which he has still been unsuccessful in getting the transplant recipients their handicap certificates, he says Jagan Nath Goyal, a lawyer of Sangrur, who is not able to practise, was unable to get a disability certificate even though both his kidneys have been removed.

Jagan Nath approached the civil surgeon at Sangrur several times but was always directed to Rajindra Hospital in Patiala to ascertain his disability percentage. Jagan Nath has stopped visiting the hospital now. In another case of Teja Singh, a patwari working in Sangrur, though the Rajindra Hospital authorities had given their opinion that he was 60 per cent handicapped, no disability certificate was issued to him and he had been directed to undergo further examination. Vishal says in the case of Deepak Kumar, a small dhaba owner at Rajpura, he has visited the office of the civil surgeon with Deepak several times but has been unable to get a handicap certificate for him. Deepak has been unable to get a disability certificate despite the ultra sound indicating a completely damaged kidney.

Vishal is helping others despite facing an uncertain future himself. "I stopped taking imported medication as it used to cost my parents Rs 30,000 per month. Even though this has caused a lot of problems, mainly cataract and diabetes, Vishal supports himself. "Itake tuitions for five hours everyday after coming back from Punjabi University, where I am doing post graduation in law." He even goes to teach a mentally retarded girl with a physical deformity in her house. He moves around all day on his bicycle,"preferring not to use any vehicle" parked at his home.

Vishal, who had been a member of his college tennis team for four years, besides being an active sportsman, reveals "Ishun human company as I have been largely disappointed by society. Itry to find solace in looking after my two dogs, besides studying for my law degree which keeps me occupied for most of the day. I try to keep busy". He asserts he does not feel frustrated because he has become handicapped due to a botched up appendicitis operation and wrong medication thereafter. "I was a loner earlier too, as I concentrated on my studies and sports activities. However, the bitter experiences I’ve had to suffer after the renal failure and the problems faced by me to get small justifiable benefits has changed me. I keep thinking what will become of other disabled persons when an educated person like me is discriminated against — I was not given a hostel room, as it was feared I would spread infection due to the face mask I wear to ward off infection.Similarly, I could not sit for the Punjab Civil Services Main Examinations as I could not get to know my medical status for the same in time."

"After seeing this apathetic attitude of people, I decided to help other transplant recipients in getting a fair deal from the state," says Vishal who would like to take up a career in teaching or enter the judicial services.