PRAYAAS

Awareness and Classification Of Differently- abled in Para sports

The thought of starting your journey into Para sport might seem daunting, but it needn’t be. Prayas works alongside a range of organisations to ensure that you get a big welcome and a fantastic opportunity to discover and learn your new sport regardless of where you live within India.

There are numerous exciting Para sport opportunities around the country. From Para swimming to Shooting Para sport, or athletics or powerlifting - there is broad range of opportunities on offer for you to get involved in, no matter your age, experience or aspirations.

To get started, the first thing to do is to register your interest with Prayas. This will give us an understanding of your background, interests and ambitions, which will allow us to provide a personalised recommendation regarding the next steps and opportunities best suited to you.

Differently-abled People in India

The number of people with disabilities in India was stated as 26.8 million in the 2011 Census of India. People with disabilities are often seen as wicked or deceitful, or as unable to progress to adulthood and dependent on charity and pity for assistance. This is as opposed to an emphasis on the strengths people possess despite their disabilities, and their potential for adaptation.

In India, about 10 to 15 percent of the population is differently-abled as per the 2011 census. They need a lot of support, customised infrastructure, and a friendly society. People with mental or physical conditions are differently abled because they possess a unique set of abilities and perspectives. Everybody has ability and everybody matters, it's all about acknowledging it.

Differently-abled people need special arrangements in the environment for their mobility and independent functioning. It is also a fact that the infrastructure we have is not architecture barrier-free and disabled people find it difficult for their day-today functioning.

STATISTICS

2.21% of Indian population is disabled (Disabled Population by Sex and Residence India)

Total - 26.8 ; Males 18.6; Females 8.2

Rural - Total 15.0; Male 10.4; Female 4.6

Urban - Total 11.8;Male 8.2; Female 3.6

Disabled Population by Type of Disability

visual impairment - 18.8%

mental illness- 8.3%

Hearing disabilities - 26.4%

physical disabilities - 20.3%

other - 26.2%

THE INDIAN GOVERNMENT

The Indian government has enacted initiatives such as the ‘Accessible India Campaign’ to make public spaces and transportation barrier-free for persons with disabilities.The usage of the term Divyangjan ("those with divine abilities") was promoted by Prime Minister Narendra Modi as an alternative to the term "Persons with Disability"

Over the years, the Indian Government has created several policies to support differently-abled people. Unfortunately, families and institutions remain in the dark about these policies, which deprives disabled people from enjoying various benefits. As a result, it is our endeavour to spread awareness about policies such as the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act (RPWD) 2016.

WHY SPORT?

Sports provides the opportunity for physical improvements such as stronger muscles, enhanced cardiovascular aerobic levels and improved motor skills.

Sports creates an environment that allows the differently abled to develop crucial life skills

Sports also offers unique insights about dealing with challenges and learning from uncertainty, along with getting out of the comfort zone - all of which are applicable in our professional and personal lives as well.

PARA SPORTS

Para sports or adaptive sports often run parallel to typical sports. However, they allow modifications necessary for people with disabilities to participate.

Para sports use classification system that puts para athletes on an even playing field with each other.

SELECTION OF TOPIC

(After visiting Sports Authority of India and getting insights about the difficulties they face)

Studying the current challenges and finding opportunities

Para athletes have done tremendously well over the years, but don’t quite get the recognition they deserve. Some of them have broken world records on their way to being the best in the world. It takes immense courage to participate in events across the world and these athletes have time and again overcome all odds to succeed. They are truly an inspiration to everyone.

They are not disabled, they are as abled as any other person or better.

Indian para athletes are always at the leading position when it comes to winning medals at National or International level and making the country proud.

Top Indian Paralympic athletes

Rajinder Singh Rahelu.

Malathi Krishnamurthy Holla.

Girisha Nagarajegowda.

Devendra Jhajharia

Murlikant Petkar

SPORTS CAN MAKE A VISIBLE IMPACT

Sport is a platform that brings out the best in everyone. Be it teamwork, perseverance or pushing limits. We believe that this is no different even in case of para- athletes.

Prayas encapsulates our values as we endeavor to make a visible difference in the lives of differently abled people who aims to become elite para- athletes. Be it their zeal of pushing the limits, or the perseverance with which they chase their dreams, Prayas would try to embody it all.

Providing Equal Opportunities

We provide opportunities to differently abled people in para sports by partnering with various organisations. Our organisation is to help in the process of classification for differently-abled people who are interested in sports. The classification process helps in understanding of their impairment affects their ability to carry out the fundamental activities in a specific sport.

Location : Gandhinagar

Consumer : Differently abled people

Our aim : Creating awareness about para sports among differently able people

and empowering them.

Method : Awareness generation through various channels

Sports in India: Problems and reform measures

Be it Able-bodied or Differently abled, the problem faced by sportsperson in India are many. Out of which a few of them that are faced by the para athletes are as follows :

Corruption & Mismanagement of sports authorities:

Social and economic inequalities:

Lack of infrastructure:

Policy lacunae

Meager allocation of resources

"As per Census 2011, in India, of the 121 crore population, about 2.68 crore are ‘differently abled’, which means about 2.21 percent of the population". There is a need to create awareness in society about the challenges faced by differently abled individuals, as well as the need for a better support system.

“For instance, if 10 to 12 percent of India’s population is disabled, then you should have seen 10 to 12 disabled students in school. If you didn’t, it’s not because they don’t exist but because they are not included in your everyday life. Since you never go to school with people with disabilities, you don’t really know how to cope around them,” says Saraswathi. For para athletes, there is a lack of support and infrastructure, which means most have to find their own means to train and fund their sporting careers.

CHALLENGES IN PARA SPORTS

Major challenges that a person with disability would face are -

Overcoming the potential cultural stigmas associated with disability.

Stigmas surrounding disability that commonly prevent individuals with disabilities from full participation in society, let alone sport.

Fewer specialists that deal with studies of mental health and psychological well-being as an outcome of sport participation for people with a disability.

WHAT ARE THE EXISTING GAPS AND THE PROBLEMS?

Unawareness of para sports among differently abled people

Families and close ones don’t allow the differently abled to go on field and play games as they think that the differently abled are incompetent at sports

Lack of confidence

Fear of getting mocked by people

Lack of facilities for the differently abled in sports at various levels

Insufficient funds

Mismanagement at the administration level

Lack of Classifiers for para sports

Lack of sponsors

WHO WE ARE?

Prayas is a social enterprise that helps in creating awareness about para sports among differently abled and also empower them. We at Prayas target not only differently abled, but also the abled people. Prayas aims at creating a confident and independent differently abled and also empower them. They need to participate in competitions at various levels to gain recognition and confidence. Prayas would provide the service of Classification which is a prerequisite for any para sport competition at National or International level.

ABOUT PRAYAS

PRAYAS, Awareness and Classification for differently-able in Para-Sports is established in the year 2019 by Founder Managing Trustee Soumya Vishwakarma and Swati Basanwal. The founders are post-graduate students of the National Institute of Design college.

Prayas is located in Gandhinagar, near Sports Authority of India, Gandhinagar which is a Nodal centre for Para Sports and is recognised as the only Centre for Para-athletes at National level.

Prayas works for the creating an awareness about Para-Sports among people with disabilities and the underserved. Prayas caters to people in need by providing plethora of services including the service of Classification that is the basic requirement in Para-Sports, helping in provision of Sponsors and getting Funds for the Para-Sports. The initiatives of Prayas strive towards creating opportunities for them to keep pace with the rest of the society and excel in the field of Para-Sports.

Creating a platform for the differently-abled to portray their talent and ability and promote Para-Sports for the differently-abled at the National and International level was the primary driving force behind establishing Prayas for the differently-abled.

Creating opportunities and supporting persons with disabilities was another major reason. As the organization grow in size and strength, the initiatives expand and embraced many more people in need, supporting them in every possible way.

WHO WE TARGET ?

The main affected persona – the Differently abled people and their families.

WHAT ARE WE OFFERING ?

Prayas would provide the sporting talent the right support at the right time, to give the emerging talent a fair chance to blossom and build them. This will alter the notion of what people think about the capabilities of the differently abled people. Para athletes who are working to achieve their goals can inspire countless others with their potential to strive for excellence.

PARTNERSHIP

We aim to partner with professional athletes, amateur athletes, anyone else who wishes to bring sport to their lives.

Along with them, the people and the organizations that are working with the differently abled in some or the other way or are associated with them.

WHAT DO WE AIM TO ACHIEVE?

Under Prayas, we will be supporting differently-abled people who aspires to become para athletes and who have triumphed in life against all odds, and with their career and performance in para sports will be an inspiration for all.

Prayas aims to support these differently abled people and help them become para-athlete. We aim to provide them with the necessary resources in their quest to bring India laurels at the world’s biggest sporting events. We hope that the initiative goes on to inspire many others while bridging social barriers, building social acceptance & creating circles of excellence.

WHAT WILL BE THE OUTCOME AFTER PRAYAS?

Our mission is to use sports excellence as a vehicle for social change and a tool to improve the lives of individuals, communities and the state of our nation.

Ensuring the creation of smarter, more self-aware sportspersons.

Create sporting role models who stand for excellence for the larger civil society

THE TEAM

SWATI BASANWAL | SOUMYA VISHWAKARMA

The students of Lifestyle Accessory Department from National Institute of Design, Gandhinagar.

ABOUT THE TEAM

The core team consists of two Design students who have knowledge about para sports, medical classifiers – physiotherapist and ophthalmologist, administration staff, sports coach and various para athletes.

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