KL News Network
Srinagar
The members of the J&K Handicapped Association Saturday held a protest demonstration in Press Enclave Srinagar.
The protesting members said that government should restrict the workplace of handicapped employees to a radius of 5 kms so that they are able to perform duties without any hindrance.
The protesting members said that they are being discriminated against their special status.
“I was transferred from Boys Higher Secondary School Kupwara to Boys Higher Secondary School Dragmulla, which is around 8 kms from my residence located at a hilltop. It is very hard for me to access that place and there are no transport facilities to reach there,” said Ishtiyaq Ahmed, an employee in the education department.
Besides, the protesting members said that there are no facilities for them in different government employees and whenever they need to go to any of these offices, they have to be carried all the way in the building since there are no ramp facilities.
Smarty Jee, another member of the said association said, “I am facing a lot of problems accessing the Social Welfare office, and the DC office buildings as there are no ramps provided for the same. I have to be carried upstairs every time.”
Pertinently Jee, also runs an NGO for the handicapped, called Khidmat-e-Khalak.
Government last year had announced a pension of Rs 1000 per month to handicapped persons and widows.
However, many members claimed that they are being provided only Rs 400.
Siraj-ud-din, a senior citizen from Khan Sahab Budgam and a father of four claimed that a sum of 400 rupees is provided to him a month. “A sum of Rs 400 cannot even buy me food for my kids.”
The protesting members of the association also demanded that their pension be hiked up to Rs 6000 per month.
