International Disability Day Special (Disability Week Grand Carnival)
Project initiated by: Professor & Statistician Chirag Doshi
Q1. Tell us about yourself in brief.
A1. I am Tejas Relekar and I was born on 29 November 1994. I am affected with Cerebral Palsy since my birth and my leg muscles are stiff. My whole body is affected because of it as well as my knees are bent. So, I can’t walk on my own and need external support to walk.
I have completed my education in B.Tech (Information Technology) from Xavier Institute of Engineering, Mahim, Mumbai. I’m currently running an IT firm named “Tejyash Cyber Solutions” since 2012. I’m also active in sports as I play wheelchair cricket for Mumbai Team as a batsman.
Q2. How did you get the idea of starting Tejyash Cyber Solutions?
A2. We were from lower middle-class family. When I joined my diploma college, then with expenses incurred for projects and regular needs, I faced shortage of money. In 2013, I had a 2nd hand PC at home which was manufactured in 1999. It got malfunctioned and I had to pay Rs. 2200 to the technician for repairing. However to my disappointment, it started malfunctioning again after a few days and I was not ready to spend anymore. After a few days, I opened the PC and then I studied the hardware. I watched YouTube videos and then I repaired the same PC all by myself.
When his neighbour had a problem with his PC, he asked me to repair. I wasn’t confident initially but then I repaired his PC too. I grew with confidence and by 2014, I decided to do this business for earning my bread and butter. I also got an award for this from a client in 2015.
Q3. What are your future goals for Tejyash Cyber Solutions?
A3. I opened my office officially in 2021, and now, I can keep 2-3 people for work who are needy and helpful. I want to be financially independent as well as empower people. For making my business large scale, I decided to hire at least 10 people from disabled and poor financial background as well as having a desire to work, earn their own bread and butter to make their families happy and satisfied.
Q4. How did you get passionate towards cricket?
A4. I was fond of cricket since childhood. I used to play with my dad and then with my abled friends. One day, a friend of mine, Chirag Jain called me up and told that you can try your career in wheelchair cricket. From that day, I started playing seriously and got selected to play wheelchair cricket, first for Maharashtra and then for Mumbai in 2019.
Q5. In which cricket tournaments did you participate in?
A5. I’ve participated in local tournaments and have represented state teams, Maharashtra, and now Mumbai. We also have a match scheduled against Chhattisgarh on the 3rd of December 2021 at Vidyavihar Complex Ground, Mumbai.
Q6. What challenges/issues is the DCCI (Differently Abled Cricket Council of India) facing currently?
A6. DCCI is facing challenges like lack of stadium infrastructure where they can play cricket. Budget for hosting cricket matches has been another issue as well as a challenge for DCCI.
Another issue that DCCI is facing is that the guidelines for each type of disability is unclear. There is also open biasness for a particular type of disability-based cricketers getting a chance to play disabled cricket. Comparatively, amputees have more physical strength than by-birth disabled people. Convincing the BCCI for pay increase is also a challenge, however talks are going on, not just for DCCI, but also for club-level and local level cricket.
With 21 types of disabilities declared by The Government of India, majority of people should be considered for the selection and team performances should not get compromised. BCCI should also take initiatives to insure the disabled cricketers because health insurances don’t cover disabled people.
Q7. What is the future for disabled people’s cricket in India?
A7. The future of disabled people’s cricket in India is very bright. At least 5 new people are joining per month in the Mumbai Cricket Team. Disabled players are getting more opportunities day-by-day and good players are emerging, who are hitting the ball hard and bowling with good line and length. Though the guidelines are needed to be implemented well, I’m sure with the intervention of BCCI, things can improve.
Q8. What message will you give to the disabled people as well as the normal abled people?
A8. When I was a toddler, I was unable to move myself at all. I would lie down and not move. So, with physiotherapy, I could start walking with sticks and later even drive a 4-wheel scooter for long rides. If there are 10 body parts and out of it, 2 body parts are not working well, focus on 8 other body parts and embrace positivity. Look at the half-full glass instead of half-empty glass. We want equality and don’t want sympathy. Never give us something for free, try to make a disabled person self-employed instead of making him take things for granted.
With the current working conditions being poor, one should devote at least 1 hour for playing sports, be it outdoor and indoor.
