Friday, December 04, 2015

They Said his Life was Over. He Became India’s First Paraplegic in the Aviation Industry Instead.

Sandeep Kumar woke up from a year-long coma at the age of seven and found that he could not move the limbs in the lower half of his body. The incident changed his entire life. Confined to a wheelchair, he began to struggle to do everyday things. There were no access ramps in his school, children and teachers there would treat him differently, and his condition restricted him from doing many activities that he wanted to do.

He did not blame the doctor, nor did he question his fate. Sandeep continued his life with the same passion and will that he had always exhibited. He completed his engineering degree in computer science and was selected for a job by an MNC during campus placements.

But this was not his goal. Not willing to restrict himself to a cubicle, Sandeep wanted to explore the world, meet new people, and do much more.

He gave up the opportunity of working at the MNC and decided instead to work in customer service to help people in need. He joined one of India’s leading aviation groups, IndiGo Airlines. And today, this 24-year-old enthusiastic man is India’s first paraplegic to be employed with the aviation industry.
He helps people with special needs with their boarding passes and gets them through security check. He also addresses other queries by passengers and helps them get resolved.

“Up until now, the aviation industry did not hire people with disabilities. When I applied for the job I did not expect to get selected. I just thought I’d give it a try anyway. After three-four months I got a call from the airline that I had been selected and I joined them in October 2014,” says Sandeep.

Originally from Jhansi, Sandeep has been living alone for several years now and is completely independent.
3/12/15 Shreya Pareek/The Better India
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