Youth with Down's Syndrome to get Prez award

PUNE : Twenty-six-year-old Pranay Burde of Mumbai, who suffers from Down's Syndrome, will receive the President's award for 'best male employee in the mental retardation category' in New Delhi on December 3, the world disability day.
Pranay has been working in the housekeeping section of The Leela Kempinski, Mumbai, for more than seven years now. The President's award is in recognition of his ability to overcome his shortcomings and perform consistently as a team member with utmost sincerity.
Prasuna Burde, Pranay's mother, says: "His strength is his desire to be on his own. We used to send him to school alone in a city bus when he was 10. You give him a task and he will do it consistently without taking a break. Today, he communicates fluently with his fellow employees, understands the importance of money and makes his own choices. He even asked his boss to give him a raise."
Sharon Fernandes, a special educator at Dilkhush special school in Mumbai and Pranay's teacher, says, "People with Down's Syndrome are social by nature, but the society needs to accept them as who they are. Pranay's success is largely a result of collective effort put in by everyone around him, especially his immediate family. But it was also his unfailing desire to earn and decide things for himself that worked in his favour."
Purshottam Burde, Pranay's father, proudly talks about his son's courage and presence of mind. "Pranay got trapped during the 2006 deluge in Mumbai. But he and his friend, who is also suffering from similar disability, stayed overnight at a dhaba without power and means of communication," says Burde.
Pranay says: "I am happy to win this award. But I want to win many more such awards for myself and also for my housekeeping team."
Ajoy Srinivasan, house-keeping in-charge at Leela Kempinski, says: "He did have behavioural issues at the beginning, but we worked with his parents to sort them out. Today, he is one of our finest and most reliable employees."
Pranay has been a source of motivation for others like him. "He delivers lectures on 'self advocacy'. He will address one such seminar in Ranchi soon. If my son can reach such a fulfilling stage in his life with all his limitations, so can others. Parents need to have faith in their children," says Purshottam.
Earlier, Pranay won the '2014 World Down Syndrome Day Award', which was declared by the UK-based Down Syndrome International.