Polio Can’t Stop Him! How a Man With Polio Became a Voice for Others With Disabilities
Summary
Modin Pashya Jahagirdar, based in Vijayapura district of Karnataka, was affected by polio as a child. But today, as a Grassroots Fellow with Youth4Jobs, he travels up to 80 km a day to bring rights, resources, and dignity to persons with disabilities across villages — one visit, one voice, one victory at a time.
Modin Pashya’s Journey from Polio Survivor to Rural Changemaker
Struck by polio shortly after birth, Modin Pashya Jahagirdar’s early life in Karnataka’s Vijayapura district was filled with quiet determination and daily struggle. With no access to assistive devices, his parents tied a stick to his hand to help him walk. Each trip to school meant walking long distances alone, often in pain — but he never stopped.
While others questioned his abilities, Modin pushed forward. He completed his education, funded it himself by delivering newspapers, and went on to earn a Master’s degree in Political Science. For years, he worked as a lecturer, teaching History and Politics.
But something inside him wanted more — not for himself, but for his community.
That turning point came when he joined Youth4Jobs as a Grassroots Fellow at the Vijayapura District Center.
Today, Modin travels 60 to 80 km a day across rural Karnataka, reaching out to persons with disabilities in some of the most underserved areas. He helps them access government schemes, disability certificates, assistive technology, skill training, and job or enterprise opportunities — services many don’t even know they are eligible for.
The work is not easy. The roads are long, the hours unpredictable. But for Modin, this mission is deeply personal.
“I’ve lived their life. I know what it’s like to be told you don’t matter. That’s why I show up—for them, every single day.”
He’s no longer just a teacher — he’s a lifeline. A bridge between despair and possibility.
Villagers across districts now know Modin by name. They welcome him with respect, not because of his title, but because of what he brings: hope, access, and belonging.
In December 2024, he was honored during World Disability Day celebrations for his contributions to disability empowerment. But for Modin, the greatest reward is something much simpler.
“When someone calls and says, ‘Sir, I got my job,’ or ‘I finally received my certificate,’ I feel truly alive. This is the work I was meant to do.”
His journey — from a boy walking alone with a stick to a man leading hundreds toward opportunity — is a powerful reminder that disability doesn’t limit purpose. In fact, sometimes, it defines it.
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