No accessibility for the differently-abled: Shahina miss brother’s Kalolsavam performance

Kollam: On Saturday, at the second venue in the Sopanam auditorium, when Mohammed Arif sang to the tune of his beats in the Vattappattu category, his older sister Shahina was in tears. 

A native of Kollam, Shahina was overjoyed when the Youth Festival was decided to be conducted here. The happiness was to witness her little brother sing on stage. 

Differently-abled Shahina is confined to a wheelchair from her third year of life. Encephalitis that affected her spine, paralysed her legs. After innumerable consultations and shuttling between various doctors, it was only five and a half years ago that the parents, Shanavas and Shailaja had to accept the fact that Shahina lost her ability to walk.

Shahina was supported and encouraged by her parents by educating her as per her wish. Presently, she is a first year BTech Student at TKM Engineering College, Kollam. 

Shahina's brother Mohammed Arif participated in the High School category of Vattappattu representing TKM Higher Secondary School. Shahina was unable to witness him competing, as the stage was in the second venue where her wheelchair couldn't reach. The venue that was not designed to be differently-abled friendly, stood in her way of witnessing this special moment. 

To overcome the pain of the incident, Shahina and her family reached the first venue at Ashramam on Sunday.