This differently-abled contestant signals the winds of change
ALLAHABAD: She can’t hear and speak but promises to listen to and speak up for everyone facing civic problems.
She is Naseema Begum, who is contesting for a corporator’s post in ward no 65 of Bahadurganj, in the old city as a Congress candidate. With Naseema entering the fray, it’s the first time that a differently-abled person is contesting the civic polls for the post of corporator in Allahabad.
Mother of three children, deaf and dumb Naseema Begum is getting good response from area residents when she interacts with them by showing her campaign poster bearing an appeal for casting vote in her favour.
Talking to Hindustan Times in her sign language, Naseema conveyed that she was able to understand and work like any other person and would do her best for her ward if she won the election.
Her priorities would be sanitation, making drinking water available, proper upkeep of street lights, roads and public parks etc in her ward. She would also ensure that children of nearby slums get admission in government-run primary schools.
Making door-to-door visits everyday while campaigning, Naseema is accompanied by several women of the area who distribute pamphlets to people while Naseema holds the poster in her hand.
Neelesh Singh, a resident of Bahadurganj and a voter in Naseems’s ward, says: “The candidature of Naseema is an example that differently-abled people could also move ahead in life and be part of the main stream like any other person. I will vote for her and request others also to do the same.” As per Naseema’s husband Irshad Ullah, she is deaf and dumb since birth and he married her against the wishes of his family members. “I came to know about her through a family friend that her marriage was not being solemnized just because she was differently-abled. I decided to become her voice and married her. I am happy that she is contesting for a corporator’s post,” he said.