KL Report
SRINAGAR
Police foiled the joint protest rally of All Jammu and Kashmir Handicapped Association (JKHA) and Jammu and Kashmir Handicapped Engineer Association (JKHEA) on Wednesday and detained dozens of its members. Both associations held a joint protest demonstration to press government for their demands. Police forcefully boarded protestors in police vehicle when they tried to march towards to Divisional Commissioner’s office.
Differently abled persons were protesting against the J&K Government’s alleged “failure” to address their problems. “How long will it take the system to wake up to the demands of the disabled?” shouted a protestor.
“We were protesting peacefully, but police detained us,” President of the association, Abdul Rashid Butt, told mediamen.
He said that the association was protesting against the non-serious approach of the authorities towards the genuine problems of persons with disabilities.
He said the association was protesting against the non-serious approach of the state government in addressing the genuine problems of persons with disabilities. “We demand our rights be upheld and the schemes for handicapped persons be implemented without delay,” he said, adding even after assurances from the government, nothing has been done. He accused the state government of failing to implement schemes for disabled persons and alleged that only blue eyed persons receive benefits. “There are many schemes for which the Centre has sanctioned funds, but the state government does not implement the schemes,” he added.
Protestors were demanding same facilities as given to SC, ST and OBC categories, loans at low interest rates, 50% concession in electricity fee, reservation for hundreds to be implemented vertically rather than horizontally and enhance of monthly pension from rupees 400 to 3000 per month.
