An exclusive market for the disabled

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: This Onam season is bringing to an end the desperate wait of disabled persons in front of markets. The Cooperative Department-supported Onam market for disabled will be inaugurated at Mudavanmugal on Tuesday. It will be a market for the disabled by the disabled.

 The members of the Thiruvananthapuram District Disabled Welfare Cooperative Society (TDDWCS) and Kudumbashree are active in the new venture. Vice-president of Institute of Cooperative Management Niranjan Das, who is visually-impaired, will inaugurate the market at 1.30 pm on the day.  

 ‘’Since there is a huge rush during the festival seasons, it is difficult for the disabled persons to go out to the markets and shop. These new outlets will be a relief for them,” said Madhusoodhanan, secretary, TDDWCS. “This is not about how the society sees us, but how we see the society. We are offering the service for other people too,” he added.

 Prateeksha, the Kudumbashree group of differently-abled women, is  also supporting the project.

 Chandrika, who is visually-impaired, is the president of TDDWCS and Prateeksha. “We are planning to distribute free Onam kits to the differently-abled and poor.

 There is not enough fund. Still, we are planning to distribute the kits before Onam. SBT has offered ` 10,000. Each Onam kit will cost ` 500,” she said.

 As many as 12 stationary items will be available till August 30. More than 70 members are organising the Onam market. They collect the stationery items from Neethi Stores and warehouse.

trivandrum@expressbuzz.com