Step in the right direction

By Willie Gordon Suting

Bethany Society, which was established in 1981, has taken another step forward to help persons with disabilities live with dignity.
A new unit introduced by Bethany Society is making customised shoes for people with movement-related problems.
The shoe-making unit, the first of its kind in the city, was inaugurated by the Deputy Consul General from the Consulate General of the Federal Republic of Germany, Kolkata, Jurgen Thomas Schrod, on July 9.
Eldalyne Kharsati was chosen by Bethany Society for a one-and-a-half-year course in Orthopaedic Shoemaking at Vietcot University in Vietnam.
Kharsati was taught by resource persons from Fontys University of Applied Science, the Netherlands. This was from the year 2014 to 2015 with scholarship from Lilians Foundation, Netherlands.
Kharsati says that the course was not easy as she had to study medical subjects like Anatomy and Pathology.
“It was very difficult and challenging, but I gave my all as the Society had a lot of faith in me” ,adds the expert who had earlier proven her talent and skill as instructor of Leather Rexine Goods in the Society where she has been working for 20 years.
Kharsati says she went for tuitions to understand the basics of the said medical subjects.
As one enters the design and shoemaking studio at Bethany, one sees a line of sewing machines, a wide measuring table and tall shelves with casts and frames.
Pointing to some of the shoes displayed on the table, the instructor says normal shoes like step-in, sandals, oxfords or derby shoes take 4 or 5 days to make but a pair of orthopaedic shoes can take as long as three months.
“For patients it is very difficult because I have to make a casting first and measure the foot of patients. It takes 3 months to complete,” explains the 43-year-old shoe expert.
Kharsati, holding an oxford shoe in hand, adds, “For pure orthopaedic it takes one month, but cases differ. Some have to be made with leg-length discrepancy, some with clubfoot or high or low arch foot etc.”
According to the 2011 census, Meghalaya has 44,317 people with disabilities, of whom 6,980 people are visually impaired and 12,353 suffer from hearing impairment. There are also 3,576 people afflicted with multiple disabilities and 5,312 suffer from movement-related disabilities.
Bethany Society has been implementing various institutional and community-based programmes to mainstream disability and promote rights of such persons. It covers about 600 villages and is presently able to reach out to 5,000 persons with disabilities besides managing an ‘inclusive school’ in Shillong and running two vocational training centres — one in Shillong and another in Tura. Over 800 youths have been trained so far.
The new unit is being funded by the Consulate General of the Federal Republic of Germany with support from CBM India Trust based in Bangalore.
Roilang Livelihood Academy, a unit under Bethany Society imparts skill development training to all people with the disabled being mainly selected. The Shoemaking Unit falls under the Academy.
Ricky Renthlei, Senior Programme Co-ordinator at Bethany Society, said, “We saw it good to invest in Kharsati as she is very hardworking, committed and sincere.”
The most difficult part with making shoes for patients, Kharsati elaborates, is “to make the shape of the patients’ shoes look exactly like normal people”.
“For this to be achieved, there shouldn’t be any rough edges anywhere,” she adds.
Renthlei, who actively involves himself with all the activities of the Academy, recalls fondly, “We have witnessed many disabled people making a start from here. For example, we once had a blind student who was able to clear his bank loan by making brooms and wooden kitchen utensils! He’s doing very well as an entrepreneur.”
The NGO true to its motto “Human and Earth Fully Alive”, looks for development in all areas and aspects concerning people with disabilities.
“A disabled man should live a dignified life with a good job that would fully support him. We as an NGO impart him proper training to make this materialise,” adds Renthlei.
That the new unit has got on the right foot is evident from the list of orders in less than a month.
“We will go in full swing after arrival of two machines and training to be given to five students by Kharsati,” says Renthlei jovially.