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Nidhi Goyal

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Nidhi Goyal (born 21 September 1985) is an Indian disability and gender rights activist who has been appointed to the UN Women Executive Director's advisory group.[1][2] Goyal is the founder and executive director of Mumbai-based NGO Rising Flame[3][4] and works in the areas of sexuality, gender, health and rights for women and girls with disabilities.[5] She is also a stand-up comedian.[6][7][5]

Early life

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Goyal was born and brought up in Mumbai.[6] At the age of 15, she was diagnosed with an incurable, irreversible progressive degenerative eye condition that rendered her blind.[8][9] She began a career in mass media before transitioning to rights-based work for people with disabilities.[10] Before the diagnosis of her eye condition, Goyal had wanted to become a portrait painter, and had been painting since the age of 4.[11] Seeing her older brother, who is visually impaired, lead a successful life, was a source of support to Goyal;[12][11] she was driven to create support for other women with disabilities.[11][13]

Activism and advocacy

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Sexual and reproductive rights of women with disabilities

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Goyal advocates for issues around sexuality and sexual and reproductive health and rights for women and girls with disabilities.[3][14][15][16][13] Goyal wished to challenge the notion that women with disabilities are either hypersexual or asexual.[17] When Goyal initially began working on sexuality, she said she faced backlash and venom, with people questioning the importance of this work, and calling it "pseudo-activism" and "elitist".[11]

Goyal was the director of the sexuality and disability program at the Mumbai-based feminist non-profit Point of View.[16][18] At Point of View, Goyal coauthored the website sexualityanddisability.org, an online resource on disability, gender, sexuality and violence for girls and women with disabilities.[18][14][19] The site is accessible to the visually impaired.[18]

Goyal advocates for the need to address the unique forms of violence that women with disabilities face, as well as the challenges accessing comprehensive sexuality education, sexual health or legal recourse.[20] She has spoken about sexual violations people with disabilities face in the name of aid or caregiving.[17][21] During the #MeToo movement, she spoke about the silence of women with disabilities,[22] due in part to disabled women's internalised stigma of being "undesirable", a sense of obligation and dependency on caregivers and partners,[21] fear of further alienation, and lack of supportive networks.[23]

Goyal was featured in Mama Cash's #MyBodyIsMine campaign, where she spoke about how women with disabilities are either seen as helpless or as superheroes, but never "normal".[24]

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Goyal co-authored a report for the international human rights research and advocacy organisation, Human Rights Watch, titled "Invisible victims of sexual violence: Access to justice for women and girls with disabilities in India".[25][26][27] The report looks at the challenges that women and girls with disabilities who have survived sexual violence face when accessing legal aid and justice.[25][28] Goyal believes that while India has made important legal reforms on sexual violence since 2013, women and girls with disabilities still lack equal access to justice, and remain "the invisible victims of sexual violence".

Along with lawyer Amba Salelkar,[29] she drafted recommendations to the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Bill (2014), including measures like gender-specific programs, representation of women with disabilities in decision-making bodies, collecting data on the barriers that prevent women with disabilities from entering education, and short stay facilities that could protect women victims of abuse. The Bill did not incorporate these demands.[30]

In 2020, Goyal criticised the central government's proposal (later repealed) to amend the Rights Of Persons With Disabilities Act as an example of state apathy, saying that had the guidelines become an act, it would have left people with disabilities with little to no enforcement mechanisms.[31]

During the Covid-19 pandemic, Goyal condemned the Department of Empowerment of Persons With Disabilities' recommendations, as it made only one mention of women with disabilities.[31] Goyal believes that gender sensitive and gender inclusive policy and implementation is needed rather than tokenism.[31]

Goyal also advocates against women with disabilities' invisibility in data and, as a result, policies.[32][33]

Internationally, Goyal has worked with agencies to build capacities of activists in African and other South-Asian countries to understand the intersections of gender and disability, and how they can engage with United Nations mechanisms.[3] Goyal emphasised the importance of UN mechanisms or conventions trickling down and influencing national policies and holding governments more accountable.[13]

Involvement with Rising Flame

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Goyal is the founder and executive director of Rising Flame, a Mumbai-based organisation founded in 2017. Rising Flame works towards enabling people with disabilities, particularly women and youth with disabilities, to find a voice, space and build leadership and advocacy.[34][35][36]

Rising Flame has been involved in the #MeToo movement and the campaign 'My Tale Too', which aims to rewrite the narratives of popular movies or novels with disabled people in the lead.[3]

I Can Lead Leadership Programme

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Launched in July 2019, Rising Flame's 'I Can Lead Fellows' is a mentorship and leadership programme for women with disabilities in India, focused on self-development and professional growth.[37][34] The year-long programme pairs fellows with a woman mentor, with or without disabilities, who are leaders in their field.[37][38] The first year of the program saw six women from across India given intensive one-on-one training to address their ambitions.[38]

Goyal says that a program like 'I Can Lead' is needed because of the discriminatory environment that excludes women with disabilities from building an independent and productive future, combined with the lack of social and familial support and resources.[39]

Accessibility

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Rising Flame won the National Award for Best Accessible Website.[40] Goyal describes an accessible website as a safe and welcoming space that visitors with disabilities can use with no hitch or bother.[41] Describing the process behind Rising Flame's website, Goyal says, "Before the launch of Rising Flame, we had thought through across disabilities. People with reading disabilities or dyslexia, any form of mental health disorder, mild autism spectrum are all able to access our website comfortably."[41]

Goyal believes that making a website accessible does not require large amounts of money, just a commitment to make something that everyone can use.[41] While conversations around accessibility are increasing, Goyal believes that there is still a long way to go, because that awards for accessible websites should not be a category in the first place.[41]

Research and advocacy

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In May 2020, Rising Flame and Sightsavers India undertook a study focusing on the experiences of women with disabilities during the Covid-19 pandemic in India, culminating in the report, "Neglected and Forgotten: Women with disabilities during the Covid crisis in India".[42] Goyal spoke about the need for responses to a crisis to differentiate the particular needs of women and girls with disabilities, as well as the specific needs within each disability.[43]

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Rising Flame has been involved in the #MeToo movement. The organisation's "Naa Mein Naa Hai" series seeks to unpack and start conversations on the complexities of consent for women with disabilities. Goyal says the initiative seeks to enable people with disabilities to situate consent as a natural part of a relationship and a path to pleasure, rather than as something seen exclusively through the lens of danger and violence.

Involvement with other civil society groups

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Nidhi has been appointed to the UN Women Executive Director's advisory group,[1][2] sits on the advisory board of Voice, a grant making facility by the Dutch Ministry,[44] and is currently the president. She is a member of the core group on persons with disabilities and elderly persons by the National Human Rights Commission in India.[45]

Goyal is the president of the board of Association for Women's Rights in Development (AWID), an international feminist membership organisation committed to achieving gender equality, sustainable development and women's human rights.[46] Goyal became president in May 2019, after serving as a board member for two years.[47] Goyal is the youngest person and first person with a disability to become the president of AWID's board.[31]

Comedy

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In addition to her activism, Goyal is a stand-up comedian, and is considered India's first blind stand-up comedian.[9][48] She was encouraged to try comedy by close friend and fellow activist and filmmaker, Pramada Menon.[10][6] She wrote her first set in six months[9] and performed her debut in December 2015 in Calcutta.[49] She has performed in various mainstream clubs, at conferences and for corporations.[10]

Goyal was also featured in the first episode of stand-up comedian Aditi Mittal's webseries Bad Girls.[50][51][52] Mittal says, "I didn't take Nidhi on board because of her disability but because she's funny!"[53]

Goyal uses comedy as a tool for activism to talk about the stigma around disability and sexuality.[54] Goyal believes that comedy is the best way to get people to listen and reflect.[12] In her comedy, Goyal talks about sex, relationships and love within the disabled community, and draws from her own experiences.[9] Comedy is something that happened accidentally for Goyal, and she likes to laugh at the prejudices that people hold against her as a woman with a disability.[32] As a comedian, Goyal says she occupies a space where people don't expect a disabled person to be, because of the othering of people with disabilities, and the tendency to see them as objects of charity.[49]

Awards

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Goyal was given the Neelam Kanga Award by National Association for the Blind, India, in January 2016[55] and the Superwoman of the Year award by ABP News in March 2018.[56]

Research and publications

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Book chapters

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Articles

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References

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  1. ^ a b "UN Women Executive Director establishes her new Civil Society Advisory Group". UN Women. 15 December 2016. Retrieved 2019-07-05.
  2. ^ a b "Author Page". openDemocracy. Retrieved 2019-07-05.
  3. ^ a b c d "Blind comedian Nidhi Goyal talks about her journey". femina.in. Retrieved 2019-07-05.
  4. ^ "Nidhi Goyal: Changing Norms One Joke At A Time". Women's Web: For Women Who Do. 2017-12-06. Retrieved 2019-07-05.
  5. ^ a b "Meet Nidhi Goyal, India's first blind stand up comedienne". Hindustan Times. 2017-04-01. Retrieved 2019-07-05.
  6. ^ a b c Aranha, Jovita (25 September 2017). "Change Through Humour! Meet Nidhi Goyal, India's First-Ever Disabled Woman Comedian". The Better India. Retrieved 27 August 2018.
  7. ^ Sengupta, Saurya (21 July 2018). "India's stand-up comics are pulling no punches". The Hindu. Retrieved 27 August 2018.
  8. ^ Go Goyal, 20 March 2018, retrieved 2021-04-11
  9. ^ a b c d Tuli, Aanchal (2 April 2017). "Meet Nidhi Goyal, India's first blind stand up comedienne". Hindustan Times. Retrieved 27 August 2018.
  10. ^ a b c Shah, Sonal. "You Need To Be Strong Enough To Point To That Elephant In The Room: Nidhi Goyal, Disability And Gender Rights Activist And Comedian". United Nations. Retrieved 27 August 2018.
  11. ^ a b c d Nidhi Goyal | TEDxAmityUniversity, 16 November 2017, retrieved 2021-04-11
  12. ^ a b This Stand-Up Comedian With Disability Is An Inspiration For All, 9 June 2017, retrieved 2021-04-11
  13. ^ a b c "Feminist Spaces Remain Notoriously Clueless About Disabled Women's Needs: Nidhi Goyal". 2017-12-19. Retrieved 2019-07-05.
  14. ^ a b "Interview: Nidhi Goyal • In Plainspeak". In Plainspeak. 2015-06-01. Retrieved 2019-07-05.
  15. ^ "In the words of Nidhi Goyal: "These spaces belong to everyone"". UN Women. 13 June 2018. Retrieved 27 August 2018.
  16. ^ a b Nair, Supriya (2012-06-08). "Willing and able". Mint. Retrieved 2019-07-05.
  17. ^ a b Gupta, Sohini Das (2017-03-27). "Disability. Mobility. Sexuality". DNA India. Retrieved 2021-04-13.
  18. ^ a b c Jain, Mayank (31 July 2015). "Asking questions about sex that disabled women are often afraid to pose". Scroll.in. Retrieved 2019-07-05.
  19. ^ "Feminist Spaces Remain Notoriously Clueless About Disabled Women's Needs: Nidhi Goyal". 2017-12-19. Retrieved 2021-04-11.
  20. ^ "In the words of Nidhi Goyal: "These spaces belong to everyone"". UN Women. 13 June 2018. Retrieved 2021-04-13.
  21. ^ a b "Care vs Consent: For Persons with Disability, the Line is Often Thin and a Tad More Complicated". www.news18.com. 2019-09-23. Retrieved 2021-04-13.
  22. ^ "Naa Mein Naa Hai, No Means No – Guest Column by Nidhi Goyal, Disabled activist & comedian". Newz Hook – Changing Attitudes towards Disability. 2019-02-04. Retrieved 2021-04-13.
  23. ^ "#MeToo Conversations: Divya Kandukuri, Nidhi Goyal discuss the need for inclusivity and how to ensure it". Firstpost. 2018-10-22. Retrieved 2021-04-15.
  24. ^ ""If you have a disability, people assume you're asexual" – MamaCash". www.mamacash.org. Retrieved 2021-04-15.
  25. ^ a b "Tough for disabled sexual violence victims to get legal aid: Human Rights Watch report". The New Indian Express. 6 April 2018. Retrieved 2019-07-05.
  26. ^ "Invisible Victims of Sexual Violence | Access to Justice for Women and Girls with Disabilities in India". Human Rights Watch. 2018-04-03. Retrieved 2019-07-05.
  27. ^ Scroll Staff (4 April 2018). "Women, girls with disabilities who survive sexual violence face more barriers to get justice: Study". Scroll.in. Retrieved 2021-04-12.
  28. ^ Chowdhury, Nilanjan. "Women with disabilities: India's 'invisible victims'". www.aljazeera.com. Retrieved 2021-04-12.
  29. ^ Aleya, Shikha (1 September 2020). "Interview – Amba Salelkar". Tarshi.
  30. ^ "Parliament clears Disabilities Bill 2014, but are women benefitting from this?". Firstpost. 2016-12-17. Retrieved 2021-04-15.
  31. ^ a b c d Misra, Anusha (2020-08-07). "Rising Flame's Nidhi Goyal On Womxn With Disability, The RPWD Act, COVID-19 & More". Feminism In India. Retrieved 2021-04-11.
  32. ^ a b ""The minute I started seeing less, I think I saw more"". Sightsavers. 25 July 2018. Retrieved 2021-04-11.
  33. ^ "Feminist Spaces Remain Notoriously Clueless About Disabled Women's Needs: Nidhi Goyal". 2017-12-19. Retrieved 2021-04-15.
  34. ^ a b "Rising Flame launches leadership programme for women with disabilities". Newz Hook – Changing Attitudes towards Disability. 2019-07-11. Retrieved 2021-04-11.
  35. ^ "Rising Flame – Lead. Grow. Change". Retrieved 2019-07-05.
  36. ^ "Nominations Open: "i can lead" National leadership program for women with disabilities by Rising Flame". enabled.in. 2019-05-21. Retrieved 2019-07-05.
  37. ^ a b Himanshi Dhawan (Jul 13, 2019). "Year-long mentorship program for women with disabilities". The Times of India. Retrieved 2021-04-11.
  38. ^ a b "Rising flame introduces I Can Lead Fellows to empower women with disabilities". India CSR Network. 2019-07-11. Retrieved 2021-04-11.
  39. ^ "Leadership programme for differently abled women launched". DNA India. 2019-07-12. Retrieved 2021-04-11.
  40. ^ Rising Flame wins National Award for Best Accessible Website, 13 December 2019, retrieved 2021-04-11
  41. ^ a b c d "Money in my account, but still can't pay: Winner of 'best accessible website'". The Indian Express. 2020-01-22. Retrieved 2021-04-11.
  42. ^ Pandit, Ambika (July 27, 2020). "Pandemic has worsened woes of disabled women, says study". The Times of India. Retrieved 2021-04-11.
  43. ^ "Women With Disabilities Invisibile In Covid Policy Responses". BehanBox. 2020-07-27. Retrieved 2021-04-11.
  44. ^ "Advisory Board". voice.global. Retrieved 2019-07-05.
  45. ^ "Team – Rising Flame". Retrieved 2019-07-05.
  46. ^ "Our Board of Directors". AWID. Retrieved 2019-07-05.
  47. ^ "Meet our Board President: Nidhi Goyal". AWID. 2019-09-05. Retrieved 2021-04-11.
  48. ^ Breaking Stereotypes, One Joke At A Time, 11 April 2017, retrieved 2021-04-11
  49. ^ a b Comedy for Disability Rights: Changing the World one Laugh at a Time | Nidhi Goyal | TEDxHRCollege, 13 April 2018, retrieved 2021-04-11
  50. ^ Behrawala, Krutika (20 July 2016). "Stand-Up Comedy Show Aims To Bust Myths About Sex And Disability". Mid-Day. Retrieved 27 August 2018.
  51. ^ Sharma, Deeksha (17 February 2017). "Visually-Impaired Comedian Nidhi Goyal Slays It On 'Bad Girls'". The Quint. Retrieved 27 August 2018.
  52. ^ Elizabeth, Prapti (2017-02-16). "To A Nation That Can't Take Jokes, This Visually-Impaired Comedian Teaches How To Laugh At Oneself". www.scoopwhoop.com. Retrieved 2021-04-12.
  53. ^ Bhula, Pooja (2017-02-26). "Good girls don't make history: Aditi Mittal". DNA India. Retrieved 2021-04-11.
  54. ^ Nidhi Goyal, Founder and Director, Rising Flame, 6 June 2018, retrieved 2021-04-11
  55. ^ "Annual Report 2015 – 2016" (PDF). National Association for the Blind, India.
  56. ^ "These 3 Amazing Ladies Have Won Our Superwomen Contest! Read Their Inspiring Stories". www.abplive.in. 2018-03-08. Retrieved 2019-07-05.
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