On the World Disability Day, the summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir witnessed a protest by the disabled class of the society. Demanding care, financial assistance and separate schools, the disabled class sought end in “discrimination” they face from “state authorities”. Bilal Bahadur shares few scenes of the occasion.
These girls are suffering from hearing disabilities who came to Srinagar’s Press Enclave on Tuesday to protest against “state apathy”.2001 census puts a figure at 302,670 (272,816 males and 130,853 females) of total disabled persons in the state.These girls are registering their protest by gesturing and moving their hands. They can’t hear.Five major types of disabilities have been found in the State include seeing, speech, hearing, movement and mental.Boys with hearing disability had come to seek justice from state authorities for the dignity of life.Percentage of disabled population in J&K is higher in comparison to northern states of Punjab (1.74 %) and Himachal Pradesh (2.56 %) and Union Territory of Chandigarh (1.72 %).Among the protesters was the bunch of special students dressed in school uniforms.Meanwhile, police bundled many protesters with movement disability into police van and whisked them away from the spot.Demand for separate schools, financial assistance and state’s support for the betterment of their condition were some immediate demands of disabled class.
