Soriya Banu, a Community Correspondent with Video Volunteers, is the only earning member of her family of four and is employed at a local NGO where she conducts First Aid Training and works on health care literacy and access. Soriya uses her tools as a Community Correspondent to bring impact to issues ranging from road conditions and water contamination, from…

Soriya Banu

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Shakinaur Khatun was a happy woman till five years back, living in Malda, West Bengal. She lived with her husband and two young children in her household. But things changed when she slowly lost her eyesight due to an unknown illness. Her husband and in-laws abandoned Shakinaur and the two children, preferring to let go of the burden of responsibility of a disabled person. 

Her own family shied away from responsibility too. To sustain themselves, Shakinaur's two young boys, who should be in school, do menial jobs like wash dishes to earn a living. These children also help the mother in cooking, cleaning and getting around in the house.Under the Indira Gandhi National Disability Pension Scheme (IGNDPS) she is entitled to Rs 600 pension per month, but numerous trips down to the Block Development Officer have so far proved futile. 

In the times where the government is laying down specific guidelines and rules to make sure that disabled persons too, pay respect to the national anthem, the ignorance to the needs of basic survival of thousands of people like Shakinaur puts forth the country's misplaced priorities. 

Help Shakinaur and her two children to live a dignified life. Call up Farhana Khatun, the Panchayat President, Kaliachak Malda right now on +91 7602796166  nd demand that Shakinaur gets her disability pension of Rs 600