kanthari Blog 26-02-2021

Learn to say “no” in order to say “yes” at the right time.

by Chacko Jacob

People often wonder why Trivandrum was chosen as the location for kanthari. Why not a big city like Mumbai or Delhi?

There is something different about the state of Kerala. It constantly ranks high when it comes to literacy, healthcare, and other markers for quality of life. The average inhabitant cares about the environment and preserving natural resources. Tolerance among people of different faiths and ideologies in “God’s own country” (as people often refer to Kerala), is relatively higher than elsewhere in the nation. And here, a woman born into a middle-class family with an electrician father and an insurance agent mother, has the possibility to become the youngest mayor in India at age 21.

When asked about the media attention that she has gained all around the world for this feat, Arya Rajendran says she cares less about being the youngest and more about being remembered as the best.

We had the opportunity to meet Mayor Arya Rajendran a few weeks ago and get her views on a few matters which are important to us. Mainly accessibility and the environment (particularly waste management).

It is quite unfortunate that accessibility is not a priority for Indian townships and cities. Even the level of conversation around disability is still rudimentary, with top-down sugar-coated terminologies still used for the disabled (like how “blind” becomes “visually challenged” or disabled becomes “differently abled”). Avoiding the obvious can lead to disempowerment and a charity mentality. Calling a disability what it is, for example, blind, acknowledges the problem rather than sweeping it under the rug in order to not offend. Sabriye, the co-founder of kanthari who also happens to be blind, explained how there is stigma surrounding blindness and the use of white canes, and how the lack of accessibility in transportation, buildings, and other public spaces can be further marginalizing by curtailing mobility and having to depend on the help of others too much. Buses in Trivandrum for example, are not only inaccessible for persons with physical disabilities but also for those who don’t speak or read Malayalam as the buses are labelled by destinations rather than a numbered system.

We must remember that any one of us or someone close to us can, and most likely will become disabled at some point in life. So, bringing accessibility to daily activities such as getting on and off a bus, getting a meal at a restaurant, being able to access the sidewalk, etc, isn’t beneficial just to some exclusive group of people.

When it comes to Trivandrum’s accessibility, the mayor admits that there is a lot to do. She is keen on bringing in experts for the matter and is positive about a change. She believes that rather than have special services for the disabled and separate them further from society, it should be easier to access services already available to the majority of the public.

The protection of the environment and waste management is a topic close to Arya Rajendran’s heart. kanthari is located at the banks of Lake Vellayani. Our affinity to the lake is well known and documented. Tens of thousands of people and hundreds of species depend on the ecosystem the lake provides. But pollution in the form of fertilizer run off and garbage dumping continues to be a problem along with multiple invasive plant species. When asked what the city would be able to do for this lake in the outskirts, the mayor talked about the need first for a mindset shift. The residents must realize that any waste they throw into their surroundings will come back to bite them; the waste is not simply carried away by the water, and no one carries away the waste from unauthorized dumping sites. She does also see a possibility to involving unemployed youth in protecting the lake. Practical steps to punish offenders must also be taken.

The conversation then turned to the personal. We see Arya Rajendran no different than our kantharis who are overcomers and trailblazers in their own communities. When asked for advice to other changemakers out there, she mentioned a few things.

Growing up, her family went through a lot of financial troubles, and just because she is now the mayor, those problems haven’t suddenly gone away overnight. But since her family is close knit and support each other, they are able to face uncertainties with courage.

When faced with problems, Ms. Rajendran reminds herself that she is a “Porali”: a fighter. Thinking about the worst that could happen also gives her the strength to take tough decisions and act on them.

And finally, she emphasized the need to be able to say no to be able to say yes to the right things.

kanthari wishes Mayor Arya Rajendran all the best for her term in office; we are especially looking forward to the progress in waste management and increasing accessibility in the city.