NSTP
Rina's 'wheel-power' to inspire.
Q & A with GURDIP KAUR @ RINA PRITAM SINGHDate of birth: Dec 11, 1961
Place of birth: George Town, Penang
Occupation: Selayang Municipal Council member, Independent Living and Training Centre secretary, volunteer at Sungai Buloh Hospital
Family: Married with one daughter
Hobbies: Listening to sentimental music from the 60s and 70s, outdoor excursions and spending time with her grandchild.
SELAYANG: It is common for one to blame adversities in life to circumstances.
But for the wheelchair-bound Gurdip Kaur @ Rina Pritam Singh, it was when life came crashing down on her that she found strength to help others and be a role model.
Gurdip, 47, or known to many as Rina, suffered an accident in 1993 which left her paralysed from the waist down. She had fallen down a flight of stairs at the apartment block where she lived.
She was married, had a daughter and was a nurse in a clinic owned by the late Dr Joe Fernandez at her hometown in Butterworth.
Rina said: "I became isolated and constantly worried about my family. 'What's going to happen to my child and how am I to live?' I kept asking myself."
To make matters worse, her husband filed for a divorce as he thought she was a burden.
Rina then moved to Kuala Lumpur for treatment and lived with her eldest sister, Jagjit Kaur, who was a pillar of strength and who trained her to be independent.
On an outing to a shopping complex, she met a couple who persuaded her to join an organisation for the disabled. It was during the first meeting that she met many who shared her plight of being called disabled.
"At that moment I knew my calling in life, it was to be a vocal advocate for the rights of the disabled and the betterment of life for all, " she said.
She then met Francis Siva, whom she married. Both shared a similar plight in life (he is also paralysed) and a common cause -- to improve the quality of life of the disabled.
Rina and Siva formed the Independent Living and Training Centre (ILTC) in 1999 in Rawang to help the disabled in rural areas.
They organised a charity show that year which raised RM25,000 and started a home where 12 handicapped persons live and earn a living today.
Rina stands as a beacon of hope for the disabled as she has been appointed a Selayang Municipal Council member. She began her appointment by raising the issue of lack of public facilities for the disabled.
Q: Tell us about your early education?
A: My primary schooling was at Convent Light Street in Penang and secondary was SM Seri Mutiara in Ayer Itam.
Q: What motivated you to be independent and become a vocal advocate for the disabled?
A: It was my sister who stood by me and changed me life. She taught me how to use a wheelchair and live life without relying on others. I went through hard times but I have no regrets today. I am blessed with a daughter who is 25, married and living in Old Klang road. It was when I met Francis Siva and when we formed ILTC that we started to take on the challenge of speaking for the disabled and trying to make public spaces disabled friendly. My belief is that there are no obstacles in life but only challenges. We will fight for better amenities and accessibility to improve the quality of life for disabled persons.
Q: What is the main focus of the Independent Living and Training Centre?
A: ILTC focuses on improving the quality of life for the disabled and creating awareness on how they can be independent to lead what society calls a normal life. We have 12 stay-ins who sell greeting cards, handcrafts and pens in and around Rawang daily and they are paid for their work. Some private companies give us simple processes to complete and pay us for it. We conduct training classes on how to live with disability. We teach them to be trustworthy and responsible citizens and also help them obtain medical treatment.
Q: As a council member, what are the main issues that you feel need to be improved in Rawang?
A: I want to ensure the Rawang new town is disabled-friendly and urge the council not to give Certificate of Fitness for Occupation (CF) to shopping malls, shops and other public places if they are not equipped with facilities for the disabled and the elderly.
In Rawang, there are no public toilets for the disabled and that is the reason many disabled people do not leave their houses. Banks, shopping malls and the public transport system should be disabled-friendly as it will help people like us to go around.
I am in charge of Zone 16 which covers Kampung Rawang Tin, Kampung Kuala Garing, Taman Sri Rawang, Taman Garing Jaya, Taman Sri Garing, Taman Garing, Taman Garing Utama, Taman Kota Emerald, Kampung Sungai Dua Tambahan, Taman Pelangi, Taman Belmas Johan and Taman Idaman in Rawang. I would not hesitate to raise any issues voiced by citizens here.
Q: What are the problems in dealing with such issues?
A: A better mindset and attitude. I have heard excuses that there are too few disabled persons here to justify building proper ramps for their access. This is ridiculous. Better enforcement is needed to ensure that the public areas are well maintained. I am happy to note that Selayang has allocated 972 parking lots for the disabled. This is a step in the right direction but access to shops and other buildings needs to be built.
Q: What is your daily routine?
A: As a rule, the first half of my day is spent on my council work and the rest on ILTC.
Q: What is your favourite food?
A: I am quite selective of what I eat but I go for all types of local fare.
Q: What do you do in your free time?
A: Since being appointed councillor, I have had very little free time. When I do have free time, I spend it counselling people with family problems here, most of them are not disabled.
Q: What is your message to the Malaysian public in terms of relating to a disabled person?
A: The public should understand the problems of disabled people. Then, we can educate them on how they can play a role to help the disabled and not to look at us with the wrong impression. We must learn to be open -minded and care for one another, I believe that this is the fundamental trait that makes us human beings. We are no different from any one else.
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