There is something about Rajiv Rajan that makes you want to listen to him very carefully. The credit goes to his bright mind and creative ideas. Despite suffering from cerebral palsy that's left him with limited motor functions, you can't ignore the great effort he takes in delivering words. Throughout my conversation with him, not even a single time did he miss the chance to amaze me with his ambitious ideas for people with disabilities. But Rajiv is not just some disability rights activist, he's also the co-founder and executive director of Ektha, an organisation based in Chennai that works for the rights of people with disabilities.
As if standing up for people's rights isn't enough, the 45-year-old now wants to conduct a national-level boccia tournament in September this year. He aims to spread awareness about the game that's played by persons with disabilities on wheelchairs throughout the country and wants to achieve the inclusion of people with all kinds of disabilities.
Started in 2000, Ektha was founded keeping in mind that there was no group that supported people with neurological impairment. Rajiv felt it was necessary to form a support system for people with such impairments. "I was surprised to learn that people with neurological impairments are marginalised even within the disability sector. It was important to form a group to help people with neurological impairment as they are not only marginalised, but their needs are also different from other disabled people. Their voices are not even heard in the disability sector, let alone the general community. Their needs are different because neurologically impaired people have multiple disabilities and no two people with neurological impairments are similar to each other. That's why Ektha was started," says Rajiv, who was the first student with cerebral palsy to complete the SSLC exams in the state at the age of 20.
"People with other kinds of disabilities have been raising their voices for a while now," he adds, "It has just taken Ektha a long time to come out and form a group. This is because in many cases, people with neurological impairments are cognitively affected, and in many other cases, our disabilities are so severe that venturing out is not easy. Even in self-help groups for disabled people, the neurologically impaired are not involved."
To push for inclusivity, Ektha is now trying to put together a team of disabled people to represent the country at the 2022 Boccia World Cup in the game of boccia. Is this the first time you're hearing about this game? Let me explain it to you. Boccia is an attack-and-defend game with two teams competing over a set number of ends. The aim of the game is to score as many points as possible by placing their set of coloured balls closest to the target or 'jack' ball. It is a sport of control and accuracy, similar to curling or lawn bowling. Each side has six balls (red or blue) at each end and the side closest to the target ball when all the balls have been played, scores. If the game is tied after both sides have played, a tie-break end is played. Boccia can be played head-to-head, in teams of three or in pairs. It can be played by anyone, including those without any disability.
Originally designed for people with severe cerebral palsy, it is now enjoyed by players with other forms of disabilities. So far, Ektha has conducted over 100 boccia camps across Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and Bengaluru. They have conducted a few district-level and three state-level tournaments. Now, they are planning to expand the game across the country.
But raising awareness and conducting tournaments doesn't come cheap. Rajiv is looking for financial support to conduct a national-level boccia tournament in Chennai. Costing close to Rs 7 lakh, Rajiv has started a crowdfunding campaign on Milaap to ask for support from the general public.
"We have a long way to go and the time is too short. We at Ektha believe that sports are denied to people with disabilities especially those suffering from severe disabilities. So, boccia is the only game that can be adapted for us. We want to spread its wings across the country," says Rajiv, with some hope