SRINAGAR: While the whole world was observing International Day of Disabled Persons on Thursday, police in Srinagar detained scores of physically challenged persons who were protesting against the state government for its apathy towards them.
The protesters who were protesting under the banner of All Jammu and Kashmir Disabled Persons Association (AJKDA) tried to march towards city centre Lal chowk.
However police swung into action and detained scores of its members.
Protesters earlier assembled at Srinagars Press Enclave holding banners and chanting slogans like We Want Justice. Before organizing their protest in Press Enclave, the disabled persons marched towards Divisional Commissioners office Srinagar and submitted a memorandum there. We submitted a memorandum highlighting our problems. We face numerous problems and want immediate remedy for those problems, said Association president Abdul Rashid Bhat.
He said the reservation for them may be considered and approved of on the similar style as is being done in respect of Schedule Caste and Schedule Tribe. We should be given job oriented training and be provided conveyance facilities by granting three wheeler scooters, wheel chairs and blind sticks. Besides providing financial assistance of Rs 6,000 per month relaxation should be granted when it comes to recruitment or promotion. Handicapped personnel in Government service may kindly be posted under five kilometer parameters and while granting ration cards, instead the income of the family, the income of the Disabled persons should be taken into consideration. Grants should be provided to us in the same manner as are extended to NGOs. Shops may be reserved for us in shopping complexes so that we can earn a living and furthermore we must be provided legal aids whenever required.
They also demanded the marriage expenses be provided to them or their family members.
According to the association there are 4.5 lakh handicapped persons in Jammu and Kashmir and due to state governments apathy a large number of families are suffering every sort of trouble.
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