Jai Kishan and four others have been helped by another physically challenged, Mr V. P. Singh, who, however, did not let his handicap come in the way of realising his dreams and helping others to realise theirs. Mr V.P. Singh, who heads Ehsaas Foundation and works for the physically challenged in Delhi, today started a pilot project for the physically challenged here in the city.

Five physically challenged persons, who have been chosen by the District Handicapped Rehabilitation Centre (DRDC) under the scheme initiated by Ehsas, were handed over tricycles fitted with telephones by Patiala MP Preneet Kaur at a ceremony held at the District Red Cross Society.

Giving details of the scheme, Mr V P Singh said he had decided to initiate activities to help the physically challenged when he realised the limited potential available for doing productive work by such persons. He said the idea to provide them with tricycles fitted with phones had met with tremendous success with the Delhi Government assisting in the scheme. “Recently I saw one such person overseeing calls being conducted on five phones on his tricycle in the Palika Bazar in Delhi”, he said while talking about the viability of the scheme.

Mr V.P. Singh said he decided to launch the scheme in Patiala in Punjab as a pilot project. He said once the group was able to gauge the success of the scheme in Patiala, it would be launched in Fatehgarh Sahib soon.

The Chief Executive of the Ehsas Foundation, Mr Rajinder Kumar, said the motive behind the effort was to support one physically challenged person so that he could support five other members of his family and feel proud by doing so. “They don’t need only your love and affection but also a feeling that they are contributing to the development of society”, he added.

Meanwhile, it was a red letter day for those who got tricycles under the scheme. Subhash Chander, a resident of Rasool village in Rajpura, said he would be happy even if he earned Rs 50 to Rs 60 per day from his new profession. He said presently he was not able to earn anything because of his handicap in his village. All the physically challenged have been given tricycles fitted with batteries, telephone sets and a working connection.