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Opportunities

  • Writer: MESH
    MESH
  • Mar 31
  • 3 min read

Kiran artist.
Kiran artist.

Recently I had a chance to visit Atelier Shanti a weaving and embroidery unit in Puducherry right beside the sea.  They were one of the early leprosy groups that started a production unit as an alternative to begging, way back in the mid 1960’s.  The unit is still in production more than fifty years later but with a much-reduced number of workers and none affected by leprosy.  Instead, there are a total of thirty workers, mostly women from low-income groups and six are people with disabilities for whom this work is their only hope of earning a livelihood.  One of the bobbin winders was just leaving for lunch as we left and I noticed that she has post-polio disabilities to her legs and is unable to stand, that I had not noticed when watching her hands busily turning the ratnam and guiding the thread onto the bobbin. MESH used to buy from Atelier Shanti their lovely adjustable handwoven aprons with traditional kolam designs embroidered on the pockets.  They only weave organic cotton and the quality is very high but for a while their prices became uncompetitive and our fair trade buyers seek what they think they can sell rather than selling what our skilled people know they can make.


That there are no longer people affected by leprosy working in the unit is a matter of great joy for it means the earlier workers have grown old and retired (they live nearby and have their own registered society) and there are no new leprosy patients needing sheltered work of this kind.  This is a pattern we see in other leprosy communities too. Good and effective leprosy treatment became available in 1984 and over time, the presence of leprosy has fallen to “controlled” levels of less than 1 per 10,000 population and even those people can get effective treatment leaving no disabilities and so with no threat to earning a living.


MESH still buys products from leprosy communities in Bihar, Andhra Pradesh and Utter Pradesh, Beautiful handwoven cotton table and kitchen linen and bags made by the family members of people affected by leprosy and contributing to the income of the communities as a whole.



With leprosy now “controlled” and polio vaccination campaigns having brought the incidence of polio to zero in India, the challenge for organizations like MESH is how to work with men and women with intellectual and development disabilities, like autism and Down Syndrome as well as those with multiple disabilities. For that, we are delighted to work alongside organizations like Kiran near Varanasi and Nav Prabhuthi Trust Bangalore and SCD in Delhi. Those groups have highly skilled staff working alongside people with disabilities to draw out their abilities and identify what they can make which we can sell. 


Over many years I have seen women like Adamma who had nothing but stumps for fingers and thumbs choosing to find a way to wind bobbins in a weaving unit because she wanted to work.  I have seen a young man with autism who wasn’t at all interested in tidy perfectly placed block print patterns work as a team with another man with autism to print lovely fabrics.



And we have seen Rohit, with very shaky cerebral palsy who is almost non-verbal, serve customers in our shop for more than twenty years….I know amazing things happen when people with disabilities are given opportunities. 


Help us to keep those opportunities coming.


And finally.....a special request


Rohit before his accident
Rohit before his accident

Rohit had an accident on his three-wheeler coming to work a couple of weeks ago and is currently in hospital with a drain in his lungs and a number of broken ribs to mend. Please respond to this blog with a message wishing him well which we will share with him.

6 Comments


Shivani Hingle
Shivani Hingle
Apr 01

Rohit you are a true champion. You always greet and meet with a big smile. You inspired us daily with your hard work and dedication.

Wishing you a swift and smooth recovery! Take good care of yourself, and know that brighter days are just around the corner. Sending you all the strength and positivity!”

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jackybonney
Apr 02
Replying to

Thanks Shivani. I have forwarded your message to Rohit and am sure it will be an encouragement. He has been discharged and is at home so some improvement.


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komal_chitra
Apr 01

It's so nice to recieve all of your best wishes for my brother . So glad that he has brought smile on your faces while you met him/visited store. While it has been very difficult last few weeks, however now he is back home and on his journey to recovery, almost 6-8weeks and your prayers will encourage him more to get fit and resume his work schedule which he always likes to do:) @ Jacky- thank you for this special mention of Rohit, it really means a lot to us.

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judi.lemaylusk
Mar 31

Rohit, every year when I come back to India, you are at the store and greet me with the biggest smile! I was sad that the only day I could come this year was a Saturday and you were not around. So now it's my turn to greet you. I am so sorry you are in the hospital but I am grateful that you are getting the medical care that you need. I will pray for you dear brother, that you will heal well and quickly and that you will soon be back to work with your big grin!

Hoping to see you next year!

Judi

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vishal gupta
vishal gupta
Mar 31

Hi Rohit, i remember your smile and plan to see you as soon as you are back in Uday Park....all the best for a speedy recovery.

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jackybonney
Apr 01
Replying to

Vishal, Thanks for your kind words. Will let you know when Rohit is back and am forwarding this message to him now.


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