Like others, April Fools’ Day is not meant for spreading hoaxes for this 40-year-old man from Kudilthode in Kozhikode. Prajith Jayapal, who met with a car accident at the age of 33 near Thondayad on April 1 in 2011, is planning to mark the seventh anniversary of the tragic event with an unusual idea.
Mr. Jayapal, who bounced back to life with 70% medical disability, is all set to travel to New Delhi on the day by his altered car with a mission: ‘Persuade potential private employers and IT giants to explore the talents of differently-abled and help them overcome the crisis’.
“To drive home the point, I will cover around 8,500 km. The plan is to take different routes on which I can interact with the maximum number of IT employers who can support my cause,” says Mr. Jayapal. Not less than any 10 meeting points have been fixed now, apart from inspirational gatherings planned by clubs and voluntary organisations, he adds.
For more than six months, this commerce graduate, who lost his job after the accident, has been preparing for his long-cherished journey with the support of friends and well-wishers with Rotary Club and Junior Chamber of India. The altered car was readied under the supervision of Kodur Musthafa, a differently-abled man from Malappuram who has inspired hundreds of such people to stand on their feet. A mechanic and a caretaker will accompany Mr. Jayapal during the drive.
“The trip is planned in such a way to avoid stress and physical strain. We will reach New Delhi only on April 24 covering all short-listed places and attending motivational meetings,” says Mr. Jayapal. There is also a plan to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi before the return trip in the first week of May. We will request his intervention to increase the monthly pension for the disabled.
Mr. Jayapal is also providing a food for thought for the authorities in his own home town to improve facilities for the disabled. The district administration has already agreed to set up disabled-friendly entrances on the Kozhikode main beach and the South Beach in support of my wish, he points out.
B. Gopesh, one of his close friends in Kozhikode, says Mr. Jayapal’s will to take up the risky drive has come as an inspiration for many suffering from physical disabilities. We have already formed a special committee to help him in his mission and ensure a trouble-free journey, he adds.
