Srinagar,17-May; Jammu and Kashmir Handicapped Association (JKHA) members held a protest at Srinagar against the what they said ‘callous attitude’ of the government in addressing the problems of people with disabilities.
The protesters assembled here in Press Enclave Srinagar under the banner of the association in support of their demands.
Abdul Rasheed Butt, President of the Jammu and Kashmir Handicapped Association demanded that the Disability Act-2016 should be implemented in Jammu and Kashmir as soon as possible and focuses on resolving the remaining issues as Jammu and Kashmir has now become a central region. He blamed that over the years, governments have failed to implement any welfare measures for the physically challenged.
“Despite writing several times to LG Manoj Sinha, seeking a meeting, there was no response, although many delegations meet him. Offering us Scotties or tricycles won’t help, there are qualified youth among us who are trained from ITI, we want Jobs for unemployed physically challenged persons and asking for it is our right,” said butt.
“In this era of inflation we are just getting pension of Rs 500, which is not enough for one day survival”, another protester added.
Butt said that people with disabilities in Jammu and Kashmir have been mistreated by the entire government whether it is the central government or the state government and the state government has always assured us that they will provide all the benefits to the disabled people that the law and the constitution have given them but after the meeting nothing is being done for the disabled people and nothing is visible on the ground.
He along with other protesters requested the Central and State Governments to meet their demands as they are facing a lot of problems.
They added that they have no choice but to protest, because the government here is not paying any attention to them.
At the end of the protest Abdul Rashid Butt thanked all the physically challenged people who have contributed to the success of this programme.
Meanwhile In a statement issued, the association demanded Special Recruitment Drive for Qualified Disable persons, Enhancement Monthly pension from 1000 to 4000, Vertical Reservation for persons with disabilities rather than horizontal in all government jobs, Remove of SRO SW 59,142,127, Provide low interest loans for persons with disabilities as well as it should be covered in subsides, MG NAREGA and all such types of works should be available for disable persons also with 4% reservation as per disabilities act 2016, 4% promotion and transfer policy for disable employees, Rehabilitation centre in each district headquarters of CRC, Health covers with special package, and free medical aid treatment in Govt / Pvt Nursing homes, 11.4% Reservation in assembly, municipalities and Panchayats, Reservation in all colleges and universities like SC, ST. ALC etc and Children of Disabled parents also, To setup advisory board for physically challenged persons and to be given a chance in District Development Board meetings, To setup advisory board for economic and social development of physically challenge persons on the pattern of sc / ST / Pahari advisory board, Separate counters to be opened for Persons with disabilities in every government, government officers, 50% concession in electric and water fee charges, Re – advertisement of backlog vacancies since 1998 to till date, Members from our Association should be included in Executive committees and coordination committees after the nominations of Jammu and Kashmir government, Accessibility of vehicles, parking, office works, banks, roads, bridges etc, Participation of persons with Disabilities in Economic and Development works, Disabilities Commissioner should be appointed like we were having before, Application fee exemption for job applicants like central adopts, Braille schools for blind persons in every district at least up to primary and higher levels at Jammu and Srinagar, People falling under disable category shall remain all tax – free including GST and Wherever shopping complexes and plots are made by government departments disable category people should be reservation of at least 4%.(CNS)
Comments are closed.