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Short people face tall order: New body formed to fight for their place in society
View(s):Text and pix by Rekha Tharangani Fonseka
They face difficulties in public places such as banks, supermarkets, hospitals and hotels, and in using public transport. Yet, there is little public discourse on the issues they face.
To gain their due recognition in society and get about their work conveniently, they have formed themselves into a group known as ‘the Little People Association of Sri Lanka’.
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- Some of the issues Ranjith Dissanayake faces in his daily life
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- Dharmapala Vidyalaya — is a strength to him
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- Association Chief Dharshani Nanayakkara and Dinura Nagasinha, a student who says his school
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- Members of the Little People Association of Sri Lanka, the new group formed to fight for their rights
The association’s founder Dharshani Nanayakkara, who is 3ft and 11 inches tall, told the Sunday Times that she had faced many inconveniences, particularly during her school years when she felt she was unable to advance in several areas including sports activities.
Ms. Nanayakkara is married to a person of normal height and has two children, one of whom is of her height and the other her husband’s.
The association has so far attracted 223 members — 94 women and 129 men.
“None of the political parties has paid attention to people with height deficiency. Even when we go to vote we cannot reach the ballot box at times,” she said.
“We need to be treated not as disabled persons, but as a group that needs attention in society with equal opportunities as other people. We also expect that people should not look down on us,” she said.
Sri Lanka has not estimated figures on people with height deficiency.
Lady Ridgeway Children’s Hospital Medical Specialist Dr. Sumudu Nimali Seneviratne said many factors such as genetical disorders (Achondroplasia), Growth Hormone Deficiency, Thyroid Hormone Deficiency, prolonged steroid therapy (side effect using prednisone), and sudden genetical disorders (Turner syndrome) could be linked to height deficiency.
Dr. Seneviratne said normal parents at times could give birth to children who were of short stature and they were recommended hormone treatment to increase height. She said some of the height-deficiency treatments are at an experimental level.
For people of short stature, obstacles are many. One of them is they are unable to reach counters at banks and other places. Boarding trains and buses are also issues they face.
Ranjith Dissanayake, who is 3ft 6 inches, is a resident of Welimada. He said his stay in school was unpleasant with all sorts of nicknames being hurled at him, while he suffered the pain of being sidelined from school activities due to his height.
He said even in temples, people made various comments when they saw him. “Ultimately I decided not to visit the temple as I felt my presence was a distraction to the others,” he added.
He said, initially his attempts to get married were not successful as the height was an issue.
However, eventually, he married a person of normal height and had two children who were of normal height. “However I avoid going to their school because children could make remarks at my sons,” said Mr. Disssanayake who runs an eatery with seven people working for him.
Three-feet-and-eight-inches-tall Chandrika Pushpakanthi Kumari from Walpola says height has been an obstacle for her marriage.
She said she had to give up her educational activities as she could not bear the jokes and the comments thrown at her.
Even some of her relatives had said she would not be able to find a partner. At 40, she remains unmarried.
Kottawa Dharmapala Vidyalaya student Dinura Nagasinha said he faced many a difficulty due to her height. But he was full of praise for her school. “The school has been a strength to me,” he said, adding that he enjoyed the support of teachers, fellow students and their parents.
Social Services Director Anoja Herath told the Sunday Times that Divisional Secretariat officials had been told to identify the needs of people with height deficiency and take steps to provide necessary facilities.
She said such people could not be registered as disabled persons as they were in good health condition.
He said the Social Services Department conducted special vocational training for such people in the age group 18 to 35.
Ms. Herath said department officials would discuss with banks, hospitals and other institutions and request that special facilities be made available for people of short stature.
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