Nisheet and his wife see capability in their disability

Tridip Mandal / CNN-IBN

Time Published on Sat, Mar 07, 2009 at 16:25, Updated on Sat, Mar 07, 2009 at 16:38 in India section


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Gujarat: Life's a joyride for Mukesh and Ranjana Bhen of Bhavnagar in Gujarat but behind their unmistakable smile there is a past, cruel and painful. When they got married, their families flatly refused to cope with 2 disabled persons.
“My wife and I are disabled and that's why we got married. But our families threw us out,” says Mukesh.
That was almost 15 years ago, now there is a spring in their stride. The couple no longer depend on others. They earn a decent livelihood and have their own house. Their world has changed because the efforts of one man their boss and the CEO of Microsign products in Bhavnagar, Nishit Mehta.

“In the beginning of my work I felt this is something I am doing for the social cause but the result has arrived in such a way that I never like to tell anyone that I am doing some social work. By utilizing their in built ability I am and they are in a winning situation. It is fruitful for our company to make better use of their ability at the right place for the better result,” says Nisheett.

The company supplies plastic components for Mercedes Benz, TATA MOTORS and HP. But Microsingn is not just about its products, its is also about people who produce them, 80 per cent or 16 of whom are disabled.
This at a time when the government rider is to employ a minimum of 3 per cent disabled.

“If there is a somebody who has a hearing disability then we always try to put them at the place where there is more noise so that it will not disturb him. When there is concentration involved, and a person is not required to walk etc, we will put the orthopedic handicap. When there is a monotonous work, assembly work then we will put the mentally retarded people,” Nisheet.

This monotonous work has given a new meaning to the lives of Mukesh and Ramani Bhen. Their hands are making up for their immobile limbs.

Nisheet Mehta, along with his employees able bodied and disabled has scripted a real life heroic story. A story which talks of enterprise, courage, ability to overcame all odds and emerge winners. They might be earning just Rs 2 to 5000 per month. But what's priceless is the dignity and respect that they get here.

Having seen the hard times now they can finally enjoy life and show all of us that physically or mentally they are no longer challenged.