The terrorists fryed me with bullets and, considering me dead, left from there, but God accepted something else. I survived. Yes, disabled for age. I had given up in my life, but there came a moment that changed the meaning of my life. Then I made the help of the disabled and terror victims my mission and purpose. This is how the Jeba Apa Institute started. This school provides free education to about 100 Divyang, Deaf, Deaf, Blind, Poor and Terrorist children up to class VIII ...

Padma Shri Awarded on Republic Day

Javed Ahmad Tak, a resident of Bijbihara, South Kashmir, conferred with the Padma Shri award on Republic Day, told the story of 23 years of struggle in his life. Talking about the incident that happened to him, he said, "It is about midnight of March 21-22 in 1997". Then I was 21 and graduating. Came to his sick aunt's house. Suddenly gunmen (terrorists) came there at night. He started kidnapping my cousin. When I stopped, they opened fire. The next day my eye opened on the hospital bed. A few days later I came home, but forever as a Divyang. The pills injured my renal bone, liver, kidney, gall bladder, everything. Been in bed for three years. Succumbed to stress

When the pain of Divyang and terror victims was felt

One day I lay in bed thinking about my life. Then I heard the noise of some children outside the house. I asked my mother to call and bring the children. I started teaching them. Within a few days my room became a small school. This instilled ardor and confidence in me to live. Stress also decreased. Then I decided to study further. He also did two distance education certificate courses in human rights and computing from IGNOU. Being a victim myself, I realized the pain of the disabled and terror victims. Then I decided to move on to something else.

Provision of rehabilitation and adequate facilities for the differently-abled

Javed said, I did a Masters in Social Welfare Department at Kashmir University. During this time, I provided adequate facilities for the differently abled in seven buildings there. The struggle that I had to do for this made me more confident. After leaving the university, I started working for the differently abled. I am happy to help my people. Tak said that former Governor of Jammu and Kashmir NN Vohra and former director of the National Center for Promotion of Employment for Disabled People, Late. Javed Abidi got full support and inspiration. In the year 2006, I started work to rehabilitate the disabled. In the year 2007, I started the Jeba Apa Institute. In this, children of Bijbihara and its adjoining areas were given free education.

Jiba Apa Institute opened for the disabled and terror victims

The school has facilities for blind children to study in Braille. We also offer vocational courses to earn employment. It also has facilities for mentally ill children. When asked why the name of the school is Jeba Apa, Tak says, my grandmother used to call Jeba Apa only in our area. She was always ahead to help others. Apa means sister. So I also named my school Jeba Apa. On being honored with the Padma Shri, Tak said that this honor belongs to those who want to do something despite being Divyang.

Javed Ahmed Tak filed three PILs in the High Court and the government had to implement the reservation facility for the differently abled. In 2003, he started the Helpline Humanity Welfare Organization, which helps the differently-abled and terror victims. Javed received about 75 thousand compensation from the government, he also spent for the education of these children.

God knows the same, Padma Shri Javed Ahmed Tak-

All I want is to change the attitude of the society towards the disabled. Divyang needs rights and cooperation, not compassion. To instill confidence in the Divyang, to convince them that they too can touch the sky, this is my mission.