A village DPO brings relief to all children with severe disability in a district.

Anuru is a small village in Chikkaballapur district of Karnataka. The village is known for its silk cocoon production. A Disabled Peoples Organisation (DPO) which is a self-help-group of persons with disability, in this village has four of its members who are parents of children with cerebral palsy.

In the first week of August 2021, the DPO members took an initiative of advocacy for their four cerebral palsy children as they were denied assessment (a requirement for being issued the UDID card) at the Government Hospital of Siddlaghatta the closest town 4km away from Anuru. They were asked to get assessment done at NIMHANS Bangalore which is 70kms away from their village.

The DPO members discussed their need with ADD India staff. They decided to approach the district health officer (DHO) and surgeon and request that assessment be done closer to their village. They realized that asking assessment at Siddlaghatta maybe difficult but it could be possible in the General Hospital at Chikkaballapur the district headquarters which is about 20kms from their village. They argued that not only for their children but for all children with severe disabilities in the district, it was difficult and most often not possible to travel to Bangalore for assessment. Seeing merit in their request and understanding their problem, the DHO agreed.

The next day all four children of Anuru DPO are assessed at the Chikkaballapur GH. It was also announced that henceforth assessment will be done in Chickkaballapura Government hospital and children will not have to travel to Bangalore.

The DPO members are happy with the success of their first attempt at advocacy and have gained confidence to take up other issues. They have realized that by coming together as a DPO, they not only can address their own problems but also sort out issues which benefit many like them leading to better access to entitlements and better quality of life.

October 2021