Physically challenged persons rue official apathy

Excelsior Correspondent

SRINAGAR, Oct 12: Scores of physically challenged persons today held a protest demonstration and said that they were disheartened by the callous approach of the Government towards them.
They said that the Government has failed in implementing the Disabilities Act due to which they are suffering and are not able to reap benefits on various fronts.
The protest was held under the banner of J&K Handicapped Association and the participants of the protest later tried to march towards the Secretariat, however, the police swung into the action and did not allow them to move forward.
They alleged that the authorities were violating their basic rights by denying them various benefits,
They said that not only the Government has failed in implementing the Disabilities Act, it has also, they said failed in organizing a recruitment drive for the qualified persons with disabilities.
The President of the Union, Abdul Rashid Bhat, who was arrested by the police when they tried to march towards the Secretariat said that they have been raising their issues on various fronts, however, he said, the Government has been giving them a deaf ear.
He said that now that the J&K is a UT, what is stopping the Government in implementing the Disabilities Act which is already implemented in the rest of the states of the country.
The protestors appealed to the LG to look into the matter and take measures to resolve their issues without any delay.