Disabled couples tie knot in a rare community wedding

Kochi, May 25 (UNI) In a rare community wedding blessed by a large congregation, 25 couples including the deaf, the blind and the handicapped today walked hand in hand to enter into wedlock, in a programme disable' the designs of destiny.

The rare group of newly-married included polio-struck Ajith Kumar who was saddled to his wheelchair throughout the function as Sajini, also a partially polio-affected, garlanded him amid cheers of relatives and friends.

Drawn from different parts of the State, under the City-based organisation called Prathyasha Foundation, there were also the blind, disabled, handicapped and dumb in pairs to begin a new life together.

Eminent jurist Justice V R Krishna Iyer inaugurated the wedding meet, solemnised under Christian, Hindu and Muslim rites as per the choice of the participants.

Kerala State Handicapped Welfare Corporation, which supported the event, presented gifts while the City Corporation gifted 4 gms of gold each to the couples.

The aspirants were selected in pre-marriage meet held on December 3, the ''World Disabled Day'', the organisers said, adding that it was always difficult for the disabled to find partners.

The State Corporation promised jobs and self-employment schemes for those who were not employed now and loans if needed, managing director Philip Jackson said.

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