Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsava is being celebrated with great enthusiasm all over the nation and the Divyangjans are dedicating their inspiring efforts in individual capacity to this celebration. Taking this spirit ahead, in order to promote the importance of Freedom of Mobility among the Divyangjans in India and spreading Disability Awareness and sensitization among the Able-Bodied Individuals, our team of Wheelchair Users/Divyangjans decided to achieve the impossible- An expedition to Ladakh: By the Divyangjan & For the Divyangjan.
WCIA has been organising Domestic and International matches in India and abroad. The most common challenge faced by the WCIA is to find Wheelchair-Accessible Accommodation for Wheelchair Cricketers. Due to lack of Disability Awareness and proper sensitization training in the society, accessible accommodations are very limited. These issues motivated us to plan an Expedition from lucknow to Ladakh covering more than 4000 Kilometres and visiting 16 different cities. Right from the very first day our expedition team had to struggle in finding Accessible Accommodation and through this expedition, we showed the world how Divyangjan fights with their disability and overcome challenges every single day.
Despite being on a Wheelchair, Sqn Ldr (Retd.) Abhai Pratap Singh’s armed forces training has programmed him to take up impossible challenges and show the world that such limitations cannot stop him. A Self-Driven Journey to Ladakh, covering more than 4000 Kms. is a highly daunting task even for the able-bodied individuals. Initially, our team members were reluctant to take-up the challenge, but Sqn Ldr (Retd.) Abhai Pratap Singh’s Indian Air Force background gave them much needed courage and inspiration to undertake this 4000+ Kms journey.
The 16-Day Disability Awareness Campaign was flagged-off on 12th June, 2022 from Lucknow by Shri Navneet Sehgal, Addl. Chief Secy. of Uttar Pradesh, Information & P.R along with gracious presence of Shri P.K. Chaterjee, Chief General Manager- IOCL and Shri H.S. Negi, Chief Manager- IOCL. The cars driven by the Expedition team were modified for use by Disabled Users (Lower Body Paralysed) and covered a distance of more than 4000 kilometres. Our team reached Pangong Tso on 21st June, 2022 via Noida, Delhi, Chandigarh, Jalandhar, Amritsar, Attari Border, Pathankot, Jammu, Srinagar, Kargil & Leh. Our team of Wheelchair Users celebrated International Yoga Day, at the height of 14,500 mts. On our return journey we visited Manali, Kullu, Shimla, Dehradun, Meerut, Delhi, Kanpur and finally completed our campaign in Lucknow on 27th June, 2022. During our Ladakh Expedition we crossed some of the highest passes like Tangla La, Chang La, Zojila, Baralacha at the heights reaching upto 17,500 feet. Apart from issues related to low oxygen, our team had to face inaccessible accommodation and even had to stay in tents at some places.
The Ladakh Expedition was a part of #DriveWithAbility Campaign with many more expeditions planned in the coming months with a motive of showing the world that Divyangjan can achieve the same feat as their abled counterparts.
Former Indian Air Force Fighter Pilot
Founder/President, Wheelchair Cricket India Association (WCIA)
Jt. Secy., Differently-Abled Cricket Council Of India (DCCI) (BCCI Approved Body)
Disability Activist
Gen. Secy, Differently-Abled Cricket Council Of India (D.C.C.I.)
Member, BCCI’s Differently-Abled Cricket Committee
Captain, Indian Wheelchair Cricket Team
Convenor, #DriveWithAbility Ladakh Expedition
Former Cricketer, Indian Wheelchair Cricket Team
Travel Enthusiast
Cricketer, Indian Wheelchair Cricket Team
Captain, Punjab Wheelchair Cricket Team
LIC Agent
Trained more than 8000 Agents
2020 Best Self-Employment Award (From UP Govt. under PwD Category)
PwD Welfare and Upliftment Activist
FINALLY OUR LADAKH EXPEDITION TEAM, POWERED BY INDIAN OIL CORP. LTD., REACHED PANGONG TSO LAKE ON 21ST JUNE, 2022 & CELEBRATED INTERNATIONAL DAY OF YOGA AT THE HEIGHT OF ALMOST 14,000 FEET.
Our Expedition Team reached Shimla on 24th June, 2022. There we met Hon’ble Governor of Himachal Pradesh, Shri Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar Ji at Raj Bhavan. Hon’ble Governor praised the efforts of Indian Wheelchair Cricketers in spreading Disability Awareness & highlighting the accessibility issues faced by the Wheelchair Users.
On 27th June, 2022 our team successfully completed our Ladakh Expedition in Lucknow with a short halt at Kanpur. Our Team covered almost 4800 Kilometers by adapted vehicles (Disabled Friendly Modified Vehicles) and visited 16 different Cities in 16 Days raising the issues of Differently-Abled Community.
