Life has become more tough for differently-abled people: para-swimmer Vishwas KS

For para swimmer-turned-actor Vishwas KS, life in the first half of the lockdown was nothing less than a nightmare. The swimmer had no access to essential services. He says that very little was done by the government for the differently-abled community. Vishwas, who has won medals at various national and international events, is making his debut in Sandalwood with his biopic, Arbbie, which highlights his journey as a swimmer with no arms.
Vishwas says, “I was living alone when the lockdown was imposed. Movement was restricted and I had to struggle to get my meals. I was relying on hotels for food and they were closed. Groceries were available, but it was difficult for me to cook by myself. To go outside, I have to depend on other people, which was again not possible due to the lockdown rules. I survived on instant noodles until some relaxations were announced by the government. Being a swimmer, I couldn’t get the required calories to keep my body in shape.”
Vishwas further says that after the lockdown, it will be a different world for the physically challenged, especially those who are living independently. “There are no particular norms for disabled people in the current situation. Just imagine if a physically-challenged person needs to board a train without any help. He/she has to rely on other people, but how do they help when there is social distancing? If a visually-impaired person needs to cross a busy road, he can’t do it with anyone else. Now people are living in fear of the pandemic, so they might think twice to help out,” he adds.