"I used to despair about my life. I’m not like everyone else, and what are the chances in life for a disabled guy like me? I soon started drinking and even began selling liquor like everyone else in my village. The only respectable thing I did was shoe polishing, which did not earn me enough money.

One day, on the train, I stumbled drunk and fell onto a man. Most would curse and push me away, but I was lucky - this man was from SEDI.

He asked me, “Why, a young guy full of potential like you, are you throwing your life away on drink?” He talked and he talked and somehow convinced me to join SEDI, to learn something new. I enrolled in the mobile repairing course and slowly got an understanding of the trade.

Today I work for Samsung! I also get mobile repairing jobs at home which means I earn up

to Rs 11,000 per month. I feel proud of my achievements. I sometimes wonder why I was so low on confidence and thought that my physical disability will be a hindrance in life!

“Jin logo ko hum Pehle sir kehte the, aaj wo humein sir kehte hain. Accha lagta hai.” (People whom I used to address as ‘Sir’ are calling me ‘Sir’ today. It feels nice).” - Om Prakash, Nagaur, Rajasthan