Miss-Delectable
New Member
- Joined
- Apr 18, 2004
- Messages
- 17,160
- Reaction score
- 7
The Statesman
Waiting for Independence Day to hoist tri-colours in schools is a common thing among the children. But not all children in the country are lucky enough to celebrate the day in schools. Meet a deaf and dumb girl who helps her family survive by making tri-colours.
Jyotshna Shil (15), deaf and dumb by birth, was not fortunate enough to go to school. Unlike others who, after availing education and training at the government’s expense, blame the country for lack of employment opportunities, Jyotshna did not get the opportunity to receive vocational training to make herself self-reliant.
However, living with her parents at Telipara near Eastern Bypass in Siliguri, Jyotshna has learnt how to sew the National Flag, a prime income source for the lower income group family. Jyotshna now joins her family in this “seasonal business” during December to January and June to August every year and help it earn sum quick-bucks that would sustain them through the year. “She cuts clothes as per the measurement and sews flags as well. All this she learnt by staying around me when I would make the flags,” said Jyotshna’s father, Mr Dulal Shil. During work, the father-daughter duo communicates each other in “language of silence”. “There is no trouble in communicating with her and she easily catches up my instructions. After all she is my daughter,” said Mr Shil.
In the run-up to the Republic Day and Independence Day every year, the family makes quite a sizeable number of tri-colours. The flags they make are of various denominations and are priced between Rs 5 to Rs 200. “We don’t retain the flags, rather dealers at the Bidhan Market and elsewhere in Siliguri take them away in bulk. Moreover, the Army and other security agencies are our good customers,” Mr Shil, added. Asked why he did not send Jyotshna to school, Mr Shil said he was unable to afford the expense of sending her to a special school, as normal schools would not take her. He adds that even after possessing an official handicap certificate, his daughter has not got any financial assistance from the government yet.
Jyotshna’s father, who also runs a small grocery at his residence, expressed concern over the deaf and dumb girl’s future. “As she seems to have neck in tailoring, it would have been better if government agencies provide her some vocational training in the trade,” he said.
Waiting for Independence Day to hoist tri-colours in schools is a common thing among the children. But not all children in the country are lucky enough to celebrate the day in schools. Meet a deaf and dumb girl who helps her family survive by making tri-colours.
Jyotshna Shil (15), deaf and dumb by birth, was not fortunate enough to go to school. Unlike others who, after availing education and training at the government’s expense, blame the country for lack of employment opportunities, Jyotshna did not get the opportunity to receive vocational training to make herself self-reliant.
However, living with her parents at Telipara near Eastern Bypass in Siliguri, Jyotshna has learnt how to sew the National Flag, a prime income source for the lower income group family. Jyotshna now joins her family in this “seasonal business” during December to January and June to August every year and help it earn sum quick-bucks that would sustain them through the year. “She cuts clothes as per the measurement and sews flags as well. All this she learnt by staying around me when I would make the flags,” said Jyotshna’s father, Mr Dulal Shil. During work, the father-daughter duo communicates each other in “language of silence”. “There is no trouble in communicating with her and she easily catches up my instructions. After all she is my daughter,” said Mr Shil.
In the run-up to the Republic Day and Independence Day every year, the family makes quite a sizeable number of tri-colours. The flags they make are of various denominations and are priced between Rs 5 to Rs 200. “We don’t retain the flags, rather dealers at the Bidhan Market and elsewhere in Siliguri take them away in bulk. Moreover, the Army and other security agencies are our good customers,” Mr Shil, added. Asked why he did not send Jyotshna to school, Mr Shil said he was unable to afford the expense of sending her to a special school, as normal schools would not take her. He adds that even after possessing an official handicap certificate, his daughter has not got any financial assistance from the government yet.
Jyotshna’s father, who also runs a small grocery at his residence, expressed concern over the deaf and dumb girl’s future. “As she seems to have neck in tailoring, it would have been better if government agencies provide her some vocational training in the trade,” he said.