'SVAYAM' is a flagship initiative of Sminu Jindal Charitable Trust. This trust works for the access and dignity of people with mobility disabilities. Along with the local authorities, Svayam started a campaign for all the people living in and around the leprosy colonies in Tahirpur.
Residents of Tahirpur and adjoining areas of Delhi are benefiting from the Swayam mission of vaccination against COVID-19. The remarkable thing about Tahirpur is that it is India's largest colony for leprosy victims.
Six months after the campaign started, around 5,000 persons living in these leprosy colonies have been successfully vaccinated against corona. However, this process is on and the aim is to vaccinate all those who are interested and eligible.
Leprosy is a terrible disease and many people were afraid to go near the people who are suffering from it. The lives of around 5,000 families in Tahirpur and Tahirpur were in limbo as the stigma of leprosy was further compounded with the corona pandemic before the campaign. There was not only reluctance to spread awareness about vaccination in these colonies. But there was also a lot of inconvenience in coming to the nearest vaccine centres.
Sumai Soren, 61, says, "Even after we had vaccination centres, we could not reach there due to our condition, but 'SVAYAM' not only helped us to get registered but also helped Tahirpur residents to reach the vaccination centres through Accessible vans.
As India celebrates the 152nd birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi, says Sminu Jindal, founder and president of 'SVAYAM', it is important to remember his words that the true assessment of any society can be judged by the number of its most vulnerable members. How does he deal with as a society, the least we can do is make our infrastructure and facilities accessible to all. Svayam's initiative to vaccinate the residents of Tahirpur using specially modified accessible vans is a small step in that direction.
Inderjeet Kumar, secretary of the leprosy ashram, says that Svayam's involvement is a boon for the people of these colonies. 'SVAYAM' has provided us with accessible vehicles that bring these residents to the vaccination centres.
'SVAYAM' has long been at the forefront of immunization of all people who are unable to move. This includes the elderly as well as pregnant women. There are more than two lakh physically challenged people in Delhi alone. The mission of getting everyone vaccinated cannot be accomplished unless people who are unable to move to have access and the dignity of living a healthy life.
