Pulwama: Shakeel Ahmad Wani from Pulwama may very well be called “physically challenged” but that has not stopped him from starting his own business to earn a dignified livelihood.
Wani, 40, a resident of Kalampora Pulwama repairs cycles in his native village to keep his life going.
Talking to KNO, he said that by birth his both legs have polio, making him physically challenged.
“I have five brothers. Four of them, after getting married, are living separately and if the fifth one gets married, he too may leave me to live separately,” he said. “If I won’t earn, there won’t be any other option left for me except begging.”
“I can’t go to people and ask them for anything. That is why I decided to start repairing cycles so that I won’t face any problem,” he said, adding that he repairs cycles in his compound and wants to open his own shop so that he can earn a livelihood.
Wani said he had applied for a scooty in the Social Welfare Department in the year 2017 but he is yet to get it. “I have requested authorities to provide me a scooty but so far nothing has been done.”
“Many people like me are begging but my message for everyone is: Try to earn yourself and don’t be dependent on others,” he said. (KNO)
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