INTRODUCTION
Traditionally, disability issues have essentially been addressed as acts of charity. Persons with disabilities have suffered from a relative “invisibility”, and tended to be viewed as “objects” of protection, treatment and assistance rather than subjects of rights. Equal access to basic rights and fundamental freedoms including access to health care, employment, education, participation in cultural activities, that most people take for granted, have been denied to them.

Over the past two decades, a dramatic shift in perspective has taken place, and persons with disabilities have started to be viewed as holders of rights.

The United Nations High Commission for Human Rights propagates the “Rights-based approach to disability” which essentially means viewing persons with disabilities as subjects of law. Its final aim is to empower disabled persons, and to ensure their active participation in political, economic, social, and cultural life in a way that is respectful and accommodating of their difference.
The Biwako Millennium Framework developed to supplement the UN Millennium Development Goals, states that a rights-based approach should be taken to advance disability issues. The civil, cultural, economic, political and social rights of persons with disabilities should be addressed and protected

Four core values of human rights law in the context of disability:

• Non-discrimination: the Dignity of each individual, who is deemed to be of inestimable value because of his/her inherent self-worth, and not because she is economically or otherwise “useful”
• Autonomy and participation: the concept of Autonomy or self-determination, which is based on the presumption of a capacity for self-directed action and behaviour, and requires that the person be placed at the centre of all decisions affecting him/her;
Equality of opportunity: the inherent Equality of all regardless of difference;
• Inclusion: and the ethic of Solidarity, which requires society to sustain the freedom of the person with appropriate social supports
  
  

The Biwako Millennium Framework (BMF) recognizes that to uphold the rights-based approach to disability the following core issues be addressed–

• Prevention of causes of disability,
• Early identification and intervention of children with disabilities,
• Reaching out to persons with disabilities in rural areas,
• Raising awareness and advocacy for the inclusion of persons with disabilities in all activities in the community, including social, cultural and religious activities.
• Education, training and employment needs to be met.
• It is essential that persons with disabilities exercise choice and control over initiatives for community-based rehabilitation.

In the past, persons with disabilities suffered from a relative
The Rajiv Gandhi Foundation takes pride in the fact that it has, from the very start, upheld a rights-based approach in all its activities for persons with disabilities. All the BMF goals have been addressed through different programmes of the Foundation.The Foundation promotes action directed towards providing accessible opportunities with dignity to the disabled. It encourages partnerships in all its endeavours with government, bilateral organisations, the corporate sector and NGO partners.
PROGRAMME VISION
We work towards enabling the disabled to develop their potential and face the world on equal terms. Our programmes promote Recognition of the equal rights of the disabled Self-reliance through independent mobility and vocational education Employment generation Physical, psychological and medical rehabilitation of the disabled

PROJECT HEALTH WATCH

Several disabilities are caused at birth and are preventable with proper care during pregnancy and at the time of birth. One of the essentials, therefore, of preventing disabilities is through educating and training the primary healthcare functionaries who form the first and the most basic line of health delivery. Through Project Health Watch, the Foundation trains health functionaries (medical officers, primary health care workers, ANMs and anganwadi workers) of Primary Health Centres (PHCs), Community Health Centres (CHCs) and Sub-Centres on the prevention, early detection and management of disabilities. The Department of Social & Preventive Medicine, King George Medical University, Lucknow, provides the training expertise. Some issues covered include pre-pregnancy care, antenatal, natal & postnatal care, neonatal care; immunization, nutrition, balanced diet, vitamin A deficiency, identification of "at risk" cases and information about other childhood diseases, their prevention and management; community needs assessment and preparation of action plans for management of disabilities; management of relevant drugs, vaccine & other supplies at PHCs. The workshops have already been organised in Nihalgarh, Chattisgarh, Raibarailley, Agra and Srikakulam, Andhra Pradesh. More than 400 health functionaries have been trained in these workshops.

Disability Management is defined as "an active process of minimizing the impact of impairment on the individual's capacity to participate competitively in the work environment". Central to the practice of Disability Management is the concept of early intervention and a focus on psychosocial issues Early intervention is based on the "Critical Year's Theory' and is essential for the successful language acquisition by the child. Therefore, early diagnosis of hearing impairment, fitting of suitable hearing aids and provision of early intervention facilitates the child to build this innate capacity. The Foundation supports the Akshar Trust in running this early intervention programme in Vadodra. The Trust which pioneers in this field in Gujarat as no other school admits children as young as 12 months. Besides providing basic medical facilities like testing and check ups, Akshar also provides access to the latest technologically advance hearing aids. A typical case of any hearing impaired child seeking admission involves, conducting audiological tests, medical examination, fitment of suitable hearing aids, formulation of child-specific education plans, one-to-one counselling and also with parents, speech therapy and ultimately integration into a regular school. Almost 38 children are receiving the expertise of skilled special educators, audiologists, speech trainers, etc. So far, 7 children have been successfully integrated.

LIFELINE EXPRESS CAMPS

MOBILITY CAMPS

There are 5.5 million amputees in India. An additional 25,000 people lose their limbs annually to diseases, accidents or other hazards. Catering to the vast number of individuals who need an artificial limb and yet cannot afford it, the 'Jaipur Foot' was developed in 1968. The Jaipur Foot is a predominantly hand-made artificial foot and lower limb prosthesis designed to meet the needs of a developing country lifestyle such as squatting, walking barefoot and sitting cross-legged. The Foundation organised Mobility Camps in collaboration with Bhagwan Mahaveer Viklang Sahayata Samiti (BMVSS) in Orissa, Andhra Pradesh, U.P, Sikkim and J&K to provide 'Jaipur Foot' for the physical, economic and social rehabilitation of amputees.

ADVOCACY WORKSHOPS ON LEGAL LITERACY FOR DISABILITY

Under this project, the Foundation tries to generate awareness and sensitise the NGOs, lawyers and the disabled persons themselves about the legal issues concerning the disability sector. Information about the different laws/ Acts in force concerning disability and the rights of the disabled is provided in an interactive manner. An effort has also been made to create a pool of sensitized and trained lawyers & NGOs to ensure that the disabled are not deprived of their rights. The NGOs will spread awareness about rights among the disabled and lawyers will provide legal services. Workshops have been organized in Nihalgarh, U.P ; Srikakulam, Andhra Pradesh; Unchahar, U.P and Agra, U.P . A total of 426 lawyers and 23 NGOs were trained.

RADIO SERIAL FOR THE VISUALLY IMPAIRED

This project was initiated with the premise that Radio may be used as a medium to inform, inspire, include and thereby empower persons with visual impairments to lead a life with hope and aspiration. It involves developing radio episodes including segments of interview, quick profile, guidance, updates and interesting anecdotes. For the interview, guests invited include personalities with visual impairment who can be called achievers in their operational areas and who form an inspiration for others, persons who are directly or indirectly connected with the issue, medical professionals, etc. to share their experiences, provide encouraging information and guidance to the listeners. The programme especially targets visually impaired persons, their families, NGO professionals, educationists, policy makers, medical professionals and the general population. The 52 weekly episodes developed are being aired on 29 stations of All India Radio on its Vivid Bhartati Network. The radio episode called "Eyeway-Yeh hai roshni ka karavaan" begins with a signature tune composed by Ms Annette Philips, Director, Artists Unlimited. Mr Arshad Iqbal and Ms Salima Raza who are the leading voices of today anchor the programme. 37 episodes have been aired and a very encouraging feedback has been obtained.

ENTREPRENEURIAL SKILLS PROGRAMME FOR DISABLED WOMEN

The Foundation encourages initiatives for generating skills within disabled individuals, especially women who are at a double disadvantage in our country. The ultimate aim is to empower them to become contributing members of society, able to earn and lead an independent life with dignity.

Manufacture and Marketing of Screwpine Crafts

This project was launched in October 2004 in collaboration with the Kottapuram Integrated Development Society (KIDS) in Kerala. It involves training 40 orthopaedically challenged rural women over two years in manufacturing Screwpine craft items, which are marketed by KIDS through its linkages. The project also benefits 20 non-disabled people who are being involved for assisting the disabled women. The project was completed. A total of 40 disabled women and 20 non-disabled women were trained in screwpine craft. Earnings of these disabled women have considerably increased. Considering the success of project, it is being replicated in another district of Kerela with funding support from GAIL(India) Ltd. The first batch of 20 disabled and 10 non-disabled women have been trained in splicing and weaving of the leaf into a basic mat, side stitching of the pieces for making the particular craft item, and lining each piece. Also, dyeing with azo-free or natural dyes to make beautiful and commercially viable craft items like baskets, greeting cards, penholder, and diaries. KIDS has also initiated some basic literacy classes for the illiterate women.

Ambika is a 25 years old girl from Kodungallur Ambika was born normal but after one year she contracted polio and both her legs became paralysed. Movement became so difficult that she could not even complete her schooling. Her family was very poor and she had no means to earn money. As fate would have it one-day Ambika’s mother died leaving behind two sisters and brothers for her to take care of. Ambika felt completely lost. Ambika got information about KIDS and its activities. Before she joined training, Ambika had no idea about mat weaving, but with the help of KIDS and co-workers she is learning screwpine craft. Ambika says, “About four months back through Skill Upgradation training on screwpine, I studied how to weave mats, which is basis of screwpine craft. I used to take raw material home and try to practice what I am learning at KIDS. This is helping me to study the craft at a faster pace. Through continuous training I am sure that I can make products very effectively.”2734

Oyster Mushroom Cultivation

This project was initiated with Mahila Bal Vikas Samiti (MBVS) in Bhind, Madhya Pradesh for training 70 poor and orthopaedically challenged rural women and 30 men in cultivating oyster mushrooms in one year. The two workshops have been successfully organised and 35 disabled women and 15 men have been trained. All the women have been assisted to set up their own businesses. The raw material and technical help is being provided by the NGO.

PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES EXERCISE CHOICE AND CONTROL OVER INITIATIVES

Providing an individual with the opportunity to lead life independently upholds the dignity of the individual. However, the sheer insensitivity of our society gets highlighted with the fact that access to most public and private services, a basic right of every citizen, is denied to the disabled persons. Most of the built environment, public transport and infrastructure are inaccessible leading the disabled individuals to remained confined within their homes. Seemingly simple chores like fetching milk from a milk booth, watching a movie in any of our movie halls or even visiting a doctor during an emergency are extremely difficult to be accomplished independently.

MOTORISED VEHICLE DISTRIBUTION

With the above premise, the Foundation started the Motorised Vehicle Distribution programme in 1992 under which a motorized vehicle, especially designed to suit the needs of persons having physical disability of lower limbs, is awarded to selected individuals from various parts of the country. Through independent mobility the Foundation provides opportunities to the disabled at par to exercise choice and control on their future. Over the years, this programme has grown from a fledgling effort of awarding 1 vehicle in the first year to giving 30 vehicles till many years to then giving away a record number of 100 vehicles in 2005 and 150 in 2007. Not only the numbers have grown but also our trust in all the sponsoring companies who has shown great commitment by supporting us over the years . Most importantly, this programme has witnessed constant improvement in terms of refining the existing models and also designing an altogether new model. BINGO, the new design, a Kinetic Nova 135 cc scooter with stabilized wheels attached on both sides, was launched on 20 August 2006. This new model has features like an attached windscreen and canopy, ample storage space for crutches, safety protection, hand-operated lever for self-start, etc. Since the start, a positive impact has been generated in the lives of 790 disabled individuals from all over the country including the Lakshadweep islands. Through yearly feedback we note that most awardees have been able to fulfill their dreams, which include pursuing higher education, becoming financially independent or sustaining their jobs and expanding their businesses. Last year, a record total of Rs 93,38,506 for 143 Bingoes was raised from 38 companies and one individual donor. We are very grateful to all our donors.