During the last few days I have been somewhat spoiled with lots of people fussing over me.  Everyone has been very kind and attentive and one my neighbours has been preparing jars of compot, (boiled fruit juice), and saucepans of Chicken Soup for me. That’s one of the advantages of being ill, I suppose, but, to be honest, I would rather that it wasn’t necessary.

Compot is OK, but I get tired very quickly of Chicken Soup.  A few years ago I was ill and the doctor wouldn’t let me eat anything but Chicken Soup for several weeks whilst we were waiting for the results of various tests.

Sometimes people are surprised when they hear that I don’t have a cook, but would rather cook for myself.  I’m not particularly good at cooking Chicken Soup, even though it is pretty straight forward.  It’s just not one of my specialities.  I tend to cook things that are more spicy.

I have often thought, however, that I would like to learn to cook some of the local dishes, but never really got round to learning.   I was particularly interested on Tuesday, therefore, when I received a notice about a special event being organized at one of the local universities in order to raise funds to help a group of disabled people to take part in Fashion Week in March – a special Cooking Master Class.

The Kyrgyz-Turkish Manas University has a School of  Tourism and Hotel Management.  It is quite a good institution and prepares students for work in the Hotel and Restaurant Industry.  They run special courses for hotel and restaurant cooks and this promised to be a very interesting and useful class.  The fact that it was also going to be in aid of helping disabled people was an added incentive.

Unfortunately, however,  as is often the case here, the organizers didn’t give us much notice … the course takes place on Saturday and it’s necessary to sign up by Thursday evening.  I don’t know how long the class has been in the planning stage, but it doesn’t seem unreasonable to ask that they give us a couple of weeks notice, so that we can plan our weekend accordingly.  As it happens, I am not sure that I am going to be able to make it this weekend, so it looks like it might be another missed opportunity.

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The event is conducted as part of a fundraising campaign  for the Public Association of Women with Disabilities who are planning to take part in Fashion Week along with famous designers.  Money raised will cover the cost of buying fabrics, yarns and trasnsportation costs for disabled people in order to participate in Fasion Week.  The motto for the campaign is “Equal Opportunities for people with disabilities.”

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Fashion Week is an event which is hosted a couple of times a year by Kyrgyzstan’s Garments industryin order to showcase the work of some of Kyrgyzstan’s talented Designers.

The textiles industry in Kyrgyzstan is quite an interesting aspect of the Kyrgyz economy.  It has developed largely as a result of indiviual initiative, without any government encouragement or interference and with little foreign investment.  Furthermore, in the first decade of the twenty-first century, it has been a success story with rapid growth in production, most of which, (estimates range from two thirds to 95%), goes as export to Russia, Kazakhstan and other neighbouring countries.  It has been acquiring a good reputation in various markets – even in the high-end boutiques in Russia where it used to be sold with fake labels of foreign quality brands – something which led to an international investigation.  Nowadays, however, it is just as likely to be marketed under a ”Made in Kg” label.

The industry is not exactly new to Kyrgyzstan.  In the Soviet period there were several large manufacturers operating factories which turned out garments to Moscow’s orders using cotton from Uzbekistan:  During the Second World War, the production of clothing in the republic made an important contribution to the overall war effort;  The marble facade on the Western side of Ala Too square in Bishkek is just that – a facade, constructed to mask a clothes factory, (Ilbirs – which still operates today), and create a unified, impressive, symbolic architectural ensemble suitable for the main square in the capital of the USSR’s constituent Republics;  There was, and is, a silk factory in Osh, but it is in need of modernization – the equipment dates from the Soviet period and can only produce narrow skeins of material.  The collapse of the Soviet Union led to drastic falls in output and many of the workers were laid off in the economic upheavals in the following years and factories closed.

It is hard to give accurate statistics for the current state of the textiles industry because, (as in many places around the world), it is basically a cottage industry which for many years was operating largely in the Shadow Economy.  The government has introduced some special reforms and initiatives in an attempt to improve transparency and bring the industry out of the “shadow” - and views differ as to how successful these has been.  It is estimated that in the Bishkek region alone, approximately 35000 small companies involved in the clothing industry employ about 150,000 people – or 15% of the population – and, it is said. 10,000 sewing machines were sold in Bishkek in 2007 alone.

Despite the strength of the local industry, most of the local production, (about 95%), and the local market is dominated by imported clothing – especially from China and Turkey.  The items available in local markets tend to be cheap and poor quality and counterfeit items abound.  Specialist shops exist, especially in the capital, which offer better quality goods, but the costs are normally quite high – as expensive or more so than in the West.

About 80% of the exports are female garments.  In particular, there are a number of fashion designers, (often specialising in combining traditional materials and styles with modern ones), and several modeling agencies that often organise fashion shows which are popular.   Designers also participate in a number of trade fairs, for example in Kazakhstan, Russia and Turkey.

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If anyone is interested and would like to participate, here’s a copy of the announcement, why not give Ainura a call and get some further details.

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Apparently, one of the regular listeners to the “More or Less” programme on Radio Four, (which “investigates numbers in the news”), wrote in and asked them to look into these claims.  She pointed out that 10 million people represented about a sixth of the population and she thought this was quite a high figure.

For the record: The United Nations estimate that approximately 10% of the population are disabled – and in some devolping communities or amongst those “living below the poverty line” this may rise as high as 20%

The presenters accepted the challenge and reported that both figures contained in the report were accurate – or at least came from reputable sources – but they might actually represent different things.

The first statistic came from the Office of Disability Issues and was based on work undertaken by the Department of Works and Pensions as part of their Family Resources Survey.  This is a telephone survey in which respondents are asked, amongst other things, if they have a disability.  As it was a telephone survey it was basically asking to “self assess” and “self report”.  I wonder how many people really think of themselves as “disabled”.  To help them answer, however, the interviewer would read to them from guidance notes … something like: “Do you have a disability as defined by the Disabilities Discrimination Act – that is someone who has a physical or mental impairment that has a substantial and long-term adverse effect on his or her ability to carry out normal day-to-day activities”.  To help them further, it was pointed out that normal day-to-day activities might  include such things as eating, walking, washing or shopping and the abilities affected might include mobility, manual dexterity, speech, hearing, seeing or memory.  Now, it seems to me that this definition is pretty “broadbrush” and could encompass all sorts of impairment – such as my bad back which sometimes makes it painful to walk and carry heavy bags of shopping back from the supermarket.  It almost invites people to say, “Yes”.

The second statistic came from a survey conducted by a reputable market research company for a charity for the disabled called Scope.  It seems that it was simply posed as a straight question with no definition of what was meant by the term “disability”.  What image of “disability” did they have in their minds when they answered this question? and, as another commentator in the same newspaper reported a few days later, how would they know? – not all disabilities are visible.

So the two statistics appear to be valid although the population of “people of disabilities” envisaged in the two surveys may be quite different.

My mind went back to this podcast this week because Tomorrow, (Friday, December 3^rd), is the International Day for Persons with Disabilities.

For the record: The International Day of Persons with Disabilities is observed annually with the aim of promoting the awareness of disability issues, (the fundamental rights of persons with disabilities and their integration in the main stream of all aspects of the social, political, economic and cultural life of their communities), It was inaugurated by the World Program of Action for Disabled Persons, and adopted by the UN General Assembly in 1982, following the International Year of Disabled Persons (IYDP) in 1981, the main theme of which was “full participation and equality”.  A convention has been agreed which outlines the right of disabled persons to: participate entirely in the life and development of their respective societies, enjoy good living conditions similar to those of other people; have an equal share in developed conditions after socio-economic development and establish organizations through which they can manifest their views and promote activities to improve their conditions, as well as providing for the enhancement of public awareness, knowledge and acceptance of the disabled.

The International Day for Persons with Disabilities, like most of these International Days declared by the United Nations, is also marked here in Kyrgyzstan with a variety of activities and press conferences.  For example: there was a special event held in the Seitek Youth Center attended by the Mayor of Bishkek and two of the local choirs, (Krasnaya Gvozdika and the Tartar Choir), have been to homes for the disabled to give concerts.  In fact, this year, events got underway a whole month early, with a month of sporting activities for the disabled, (the Tourist Sport Union of the Kyrgyz Republic, for example, organized a special orienteering competition in Karagachovaya Rosha – Elm Grove), and there was a rally where nearly 200 people took part in  20-odd vehicles, including some 80 children “with special needs”.

We’ve also received a number of requests from charities for sponsorship to help fund activities for the day.  As one of them pointed out, this year they are facing particular difficulties in raising financial support because many of the charitable donations have been directed towards thos who suffered in the various upheavals that took place earlier in the year.

To make matters more difficult, not all disabilities are visible or immediately obvious. Occasionally you see someone in a wheelchair, or someone with a limb amputated.  In the center of Bishkek you can see groups of youths who a gesticulating to one another as they walk along the street … “signing”.  (Although I can’t say that I meet examples on such a frequent basis, one American blogger has commented that he comes across this “every day”.)  On the other hand, a blind or partially sighted person, or someone with an incapacitating industrial injury may not exhibit outward signs of their disability.

Apparently, in Kyrgyzstan there are about 124,000 people with disabilities, 60% of them are of “working age”, but 90% of them are unemployed.  This is despite the fact that the legislation includes a 5% quota for the employment of people with disabilities.  This rule does not actually work, however, because of a lack of enforcement mechanisms, no measures of tax incentives for employers, and no advisory support for persons with disabilities” noted one of the speakers at a “round table”, “For equality in work for all“, (involving leaders of civil society, heads of government agencies, international and business organizations), held to discuss the institutional and legal mechanisms for the employment of persons with disabilities in the country.

In the capital city, Bishkek, there are 14 specialist institutions caring for children and pre-school children with disabilities of different sorts.  There are, for example, special facilities for those with impaired vision and hearing.

“Targeted” social assistance of various kinds is available for more than 12 thousand visually impaired and hearing impaired, by illness as a result of industrial and domestic trauma and injuries of the Great Patriotic War, the war in Afghanistan, as well as liquidators of the Chernobyl accident.

Despite all this provision, one survey has shown that more than 50% of children with disabilities are almost always at home. In more than half of the families the father, (the main breadwinner, of course), has left home, and more than 80% of mothers do not have permanent or regular work.  As a result, many of the children live with a sense of isolation and loneliness which is only emphasized by the lack of transport, adaptation of many buildings, (especially public buildings – like schools – where they encounter barriers like high and narrow staircases, the lack of entrance ramps) and, of course, public attitudes.

As one recent report put it, “a debilitating handicap can mean a lifetime sentence of frustration.”

The other day I was talking to some colleagues about the provision of tour services in the Kyrgyz Republic for the disabled.  In particular, we were discussing wheelchair access.  The situation in Kyrgyzstan is not very good … it is not exactly “wheelchair friendly”.  Many buildings have built into their facades steps … and ramps are few and far between.  When we built the Silk Road Lodge we put one in – but in Naryn, (where the guesthouse is based on a renovated block of flats), it just wasn’t possible.  The existing architecture doesn’t allow for it.  I’ve even looked into how the Americans with Disabilities Act works – and can’t see a solution.

During the discussion, one of them made an observation about how many wheelchair bound invalids are stuck in their flats “on the fifth floor of the apartment block” for most of the day.

This posed a riddle to my enquiring mind … why is it better for an invalid to live in a large tower block of flats than in a small one?

The answer is very simple … the building regulations here are such that any building more than fuive storeys high has to be fitted with a lift.  Five storeys or less – no lift.  Knowing how expensive lifts are … it’s not all that surprising that they are not installed if not absolutely necessary.

I remember when I first came to Bishkek, I lived on the top floor of a five storey building.  There was no need to install a lift – so there wasn’t one.  Everyday, several times a day I climbed or descended five flights of stairs.  At least it provided me with some daily exercise and helped to keep me fit.

I now live on the second floor of a two storey building … (the first floor to the English who number the floors in a different way to the rest of the world).  My thoughts then passed to my next door neighbour of eight years.  About ten years ago she was involved in an accident and broke her spine.  Now paralysed she is confined to her bed – except for those times when she is able to push herself, (or to be pushed), in a wheelchair.  The wheelchair grants her some mobility – but it is not without its own problems.  For one thing: it cannot solve the problem presented by the stairs.

When her relatives want to take her out for the day then first a car draws up in the yard outside the front door.  Then the wheelchair is folded up and placed in the back of the vehicle.  Finally someone is delegated to carry her down the stairs and sit her in in the car.  How dignified.  Unfortunately, it seems to be “par for the course” here.

She faced another problem a couple of weeks ago.  I climbed the stairs to discover her, somewhat distraught on the landing.  One of the small guide wheels on the front of the chair had twisted and the bolt come loose.  The wheel lay on its side at her feet.  She could do nothing except sit and wait.  Of course, I got some instruments and replaced it so that she could move again.

A lift may be a boon to a wheelchair bound invalid, but it doesn’t solve all the problems they face.

I was reminded of the press reports from the UK earlier in the year about the plight of the residents in an Old People’s Home, (please excuse the “politically incorrect term).  Apparently the lift broke down on Christmas Eve, and after several months of standing idle, it had still not been repaired.  The residents who lived in rooms on the top floor of this modern, three storey, building were stranded in their homes all this time.  Not only were they elderly, (or else they wouldn’t have been residents, would they?), they were also frail and lacked mobility without the aid of wheelchairs or walking frames – and so could not use the stairs which formed their only remaining access with the outside world

The staff at the home, their relatives and friends did not forget them.  They came to visit – and entertainments were arranged.  Birthday parties were heldf in the corridors and on the landing.  What must have seemed like “fun” must have palled with the passing of time.  Although not actually deprived of contact with other humans, this was little compensation for the lack of freedom and the opportunity to escape the confines of the same four walls – day in and day out.  Like a prisoner incarcerated in a gaol.  In fact, worse than that … a prisoner, even in the most extreme regimes is only usually contained under lock and key for 23 hours of the day, and are permitted to stroll in the open air, exercise and associate with others for the remaining hour.

Also, in times of extreme emergencies, for example a fire or an earthquake, the lift cannot help – indeed it is “off limits”.

Even worse, perhaps, might be to be in the lift at the time it breaks down – and having to wait in a small enclosed space, hanging by a thread, for the engineer to arrive, diagnose the problem and rectify it.  (Not just anybody can “meddle” with a lift, the controls or the mechanics.  There are very stringent regulations that are strictly enforced – so that only a suitably qualified engineer can do so).   The smaller the lift: the bigger the problem.  The British comedian Tony Hancock managed to make light of such a situation … but humour be a cruel thing … especially for the victim who is the “butt of the joke”.

Sometimes, it is hard not to have sympathy with a former Prince of Wales who, (in a different context), once said: “Something must be done!”