Click to play videoKolkata: There are people who showcase hope even in moments of great despair. A group of physically challenged men and women travel miles and have refused to be restricted by their disabilities.
Having traveled to 20 states, 10,000 km on the road, they have several thousand kilometres more to go. They are travellers beyond barriers. 33-year old Nishant was fresh out of college when he met with an accident that confined him to a chair, but with the aid of the wheels on the chair, Nishant decided to break free.
"I remember my first day, when I was in the house I was very shy. When I came out I decided to see the world and began to enjoy life," Nishant said.
Arvind didn't let depression and acute pain fetter his passion for life. With a smile on his face, he hit the road aboard his wheels, with fellow travellers Nishant, Neenu and Sunita.
"All of us thought why not make a journey of exploration and see what facilities are there for people with disabilities. We chose tourist spots, education institutes and government offices," Arvind said.
Like most other cities they have visited, in Kolkata too, they want to draw attention to basic issues that they face everyday.
They could not even visit Kolkata's famous landmark Victoria Memorial, because of an obstruction.
"It's not that the government has to spend a lot of money. Just few changes here and there are needed so that we can also travel," Sunita said.
"Accessibility is the biggest empowerment. If you give us access we can also become contributing members of the society," Arvind said.
At the end of this journey, they will collate all the data and observations and submit it to government authorities in various states. After 81 days on the road these men and women don't want much, but just an India that embraces them without difference.
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