Mohammad Sauleh
Srinagar, Dec 3: The J&K Handicapped Association Tuesday staged a protest at Press Enclave, Srinagar, to mark the International Day of Persons with Disabilities.
The association raised numerous demands aimed at improving the socio-economic and professional status of disabled persons in Jammu and Kashmir.
The protesters demanded a special recruitment drive for qualified disabled individuals to address their unemployment crisis. They also called for an increase in the monthly pension for disabled persons from Rs. 1,000 to Rs. 5,000, ensuring a dignified life for the community. Highlighting the need for inclusivity in government policies, they urged the authorities to replace horizontal reservation with vertical reservation for persons with disabilities in government and semi-government jobs.
They further appealed for low-interest loans and subsidies to support entrepreneurial endeavors among the disabled community. They stressed that schemes like MGNREGA should be inclusive, with 4% reservation as mandated by the Disability Act 2016. Additionally, they demanded a 4% policy for promotion and transfers of disabled employees.
Health coverage with special packages, free medical treatment in government and private nursing homes, and separate counters in public offices and banks were some of the other major demands. The association also pressed for a 4% reservation in legislative assemblies, municipalities, panchayats, and educational institutions, extending benefits to children of disabled parents.
The protesters sought the establishment of advisory boards for economic, social, and district development that include members from the disabled community. They also emphasized accessibility in infrastructure, including vehicles, parking, and government services. The association urged the government to re-advertise backlog vacancies from 1998 to date and exempt disabled persons from application fees for jobs.
They called for tax exemptions, including GST, for individuals with disabilities and proposed the creation of Braille schools in every district up to the higher secondary level. Reservations in shopping complexes and land plots, concessions in utility charges, and the accessibility of government websites and educational materials for disabled persons were also highlighted.
The J&K Handicapped Association urged the government to consider these demands urgently, ensuring inclusivity and equality for persons with disabilities across all sectors of society.
