Walk into the Capital’s Gram Bharat store located in R.K. Puram Sector 8, and be greeted by the young, cheerful, extrovert and helpful Devanshi Joshi, whose humility is infectious.
The store sells organic and natural food items, personal care products, apparels, paintings and ethnic jewellery among others. What makes shopping a seamless experience is Devanshi who will be awarded the 18th NCPEDP-Mindtree Helen Keller Award in the category of ‘role model – disabled individual’ this evening on the occasion of World Disability Day (December 3).
Making customers feel at home and special, she is quick to enquire the requirements, moving swiftly to display them while reeling out the description, without ever losing her focus, patience or the wide smile on her face. With the product prices and their 10-digit code too are on finger tips, she amazes people to no end. It is much later do visitors realise that Devanshi is specially-abled as she suffers from Down syndrome, a genetic disorder causing growth delays and mild to moderate disability.
All these things do not matter as Devanshi goes about her work like others, from morning to late evening, taking her designated off on Monday. “I love my work as its gives me a chance to meet new people and help them buy things they need at home and for personal use,” she gushes. Her mother, Rashmi Joshi, a homemaker, agrees. “Making her take leave is really tough as she does not want to miss a single day.” Happy with her trait, she quips, “On an off day, she gets up at 10 but on the working day, she is up early and ready at the breakfast table by 7.30 a.m,” she remarks, as Devanshi grins widely. Last year, she was awarded the President’s Award National Award for Empowerment of Persons with Disability for best employee.
Having worked for four years, Devanshi’s has her ambition clearly spelt out. She wants to become the store manager. “I am working hard so that one day I become the store head,” she confides with enthusiasm. Encouraging her, Rashmi hopes to open a shop which Devanshi can run independently. “Realising her condition, we had decided from the beginning to accept and support her so that others in our family and friends, too follow suit. Our primary objective is make her independent, socially and financially, so that she is able live a life of diginity.”
A Class XII passout, Devanshi had worked for many months at Delhi Haat and Pragati Maidan stalls. At ease with her schools mates, family and friends, her parents wanted her to overcome her inhibition on meeting strangers. “It was necessary to build her confidence,” observes Rashmi. Devanshi is at her best dealing with children, especially the specially-abled ones. She loves playing, reading and singing with them. “She is very fond of playing the ‘didi’ role,” Rashmi quips.
Loving mountains, treks and nature, Devanshi goes out on holidays with gusto. “I like looking at the tall mountains and the white snow on them with which I can play and make round balls.” She has trekked from Narayan Swamy Ashram to Sirkha in Uttarakhand with her parents. While at home, she is never far away from computer, chatting with friends on Facebook or listening to music. Refer about music and films and she is all attention. “You know my favourite hero is Shah Rukh Khan.” Though she has watched his latest film Jab Harry Met Sejal , her favourites are the old hits. “I can watch Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge and Dil To Pagal Hai any number of times.” This sets her mother laughing. “Averse to violence and thrillers, she is crazy about family dramas with lots of songs and dances. Hum Aapke Hain Koun , Hum Hum Saath Saath Hain and Prem Rattan Dhan Payo have had several runs at our home.”
Satisfied with her progress, Devanshi’s parents want her to learn more. “New interactions has made her confront new problems. Though perfect in calculating and making the bill, she at times struggles with returning the balance amount. For this we play act at home with me becoming the customer and she the cashier working out the amount to be charged and returned, all without the help of the calculator.”
