Lal Mahmad was normal until 2 years. At the age of 2 years he got severe fever and it led to cerebral palsy. He lost sensation in both his lower and upper limbs, and developed contractures. His parents took him to the traditional healers and they said he will not become normal at all. The parents sent him to school at 5 years of age. He used to drag and crawl to school and studied up to 10th class. He got married with his uncle’s daughter. His wife helps in every way and they have three sons. Lal Mahmad felt very depressed because though he was educated there was no way he could move out of his village or to go to another village or mandal headquarters to take up any work for his livelihood. He had some plans but needed the moral support of some one to bring his ideas to fruition. When he told his friends, they dissuaded him because they thought he would not be able to accomplish the work.

Then he sat with his wife and discussed about exploring employment through local businesses. Out of these discussions emerged the idea of setting up a grain store which will sell all the cereals such as Red gram, Horse gram, Ground nut, Jowar and paddy, and the shop could be set up right at their house. Though initially there was no response, over a period of time the villagers started trickling in, to sell their produce to Mahmad. He then contacted wholesale traders for selling the grain with a marginal benefit. He is able to crawl little distances in the village as part of his business deals but most of the time his mobility is confined to the tricycle. In this way he is earning money for their livelihood.

Lal Mahmad wanted to improve his business (life) economically and socially and he put the issue in front of the SHG members. All the members discussed this problem and wrote a proposal for CIF and he was able to get an Hindustan Lever Limited Dealership sanctioned and started a petty shop in his village with the help of Village organization (Women Groups). Even though he is severely disabled, he has been able to overcome the problem and goes forward with confidence. Now he is happy with his family and has in fact become role model for others in the village and not just for the PWD.