Jeeja Ghosh, a disability activist who herself suffers from cerebral palsy, is critical both of the Supreme Court’s judgement in the case of the pregnant Chandigarh girl, and of fellow activists who were against an abortion for her, including lawyers and NGOs. Excerpts from an anguished note she has circulated on the issue:
“Most parents I know in the disability movement would, acting in the best interest of their children, not proceed with (such a) pregnancy. This is because they understand the terrible burden cast upon an already traumatised and fragile woman by motherhood. Why should our decision-making process be any different for an orphan woman? Do we feel her pain any less? Are the consequences of motherhood diminished in any way? How do we take a decision contrary to the (view) of doctors and psychiatrists that she will not be able to cope?
“This case has left me very disturbed as a disabled rights activist and as a disabled woman. We have left the essence of the movement behind. She was not supported to make an informed choice on whether to carry on or terminate the pregnancy. I strongly feel that we are imposing our views on her to satisfy our ego and to celebrate our victory in the disabled rights movement. I ask my fellow women’s rights activists: Would any of us have been willing to carry on with a pregnancy conceived out of rape?”
