Initiative for Raising Awareness, Development and Assimilation of the Handicapped (IRADAH) came into being as an NGO in August 2001, keeping in view the dilapidated situation of medical facilities in public and private sector for disabled. The NGO was registered in February 2002 under the Voluntary Social Welfare Agencies (Registration and Control), 1961. IRADAH is an Urdu word meaning will to reach some aim.
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About Izhar
Mr. Izhar Hussain was a Lecturer at the Government College Buchal Kalan District Chakwal. Soon after completing his Masters from the Punjab University with distinction in 1991, he suffered from a fatal disease of gangrene and lost both his legs, right hand and four fingers of left hand. Thus a very active cricketer in college and university, an agile political activist and vice president of the college union, suddenly became dependant on his friends and family. Nonetheless, this situation did not last for long. Izhar soon bounced back into life with even greater vigor and decided to convert this weakness into an opportunity. He faced the challenge of disability with great courage and tremendous patience. In 1996 he passed the Punjab Public Service Commission examination and was appointed as a lecturer in Government Degree College Buchal Kalan in district Chakwal, where he has been working ever since. In addition to his routine responsibilities as lecturer, Izhar was also in charge of college cricket team, editor of college magazine, member college counsel, in charge students affairs and controller of internal examination.
During the period from 1992 to 2001, Izhar not only himself experienced the difficulties posed by disability but also observed the miserable condition of disabled people of the area more closely. About years of reflection and discussions with friends and like minded acquaintances about how to reduce the difficulties and social problems of these people, he decided to establish a voluntary organization for the rehabilitation of the disabled which he successfully managed as elected Founding President. In recognition of his untiring efforts and dedication, he earned many awards including Ashoka fellowship.
On the fateful day of October 04, 2008, Mr. Izhar Hussain died due to cardiac arrest. It was a great loss for IRADAH team, which took quite sometime to recover from this shock. Currently, IRADAH is being headed by Mr. Saleem Malik. IRADAH team is actively working again under his leadership to achieve the goals set by Mr. Izhar Hussain.
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IRADAH is a unique organization whose leadership has defied the traditional societal conceptions about the vulnerable sections of society. Right from its humble beginning to present day it has become a strong organization offering a variety of services, IRADAH’s physically challenged director and his team has worked with utmost dedication and resolve. Capabilities approach is the center stone of IRADAH’s philosophy which makes the organizations’ programs extremely effective for its physically challenged beneficiaries.
IRADAH chose to work with physically disabled for their physical, educational and financial rehabilitation in district Chakwal. The Rehabilitation Center was started in a small rented house in the village with the help of some local volunteers. Looking at the commitment of Izhar and his team of volunteers, financially well off people pooled some resources to help the center to grow as an organization. The donations from individuals included money, in kind contribution like home appliances, tables and chairs etc, and free services like teaching to special children, doing office administration, organizing events and providing physiotherapy services to the patients.