Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Feb 3: The hunger strike launched by J&K Handicapped Association and Jammu Handicapped Welfare Association Jammu continues at Bakshi Nagar Pulli on Jammu Akhnoor Road.
They are on agitation in support of their pending demands. They also submitted memorandum again to the Lt Governor of J&K UT, projecting their burning issues.
They pointed out that UT Administration headed by LG recently constituted an Advisory Board under the Rights of Persons With Disabilities Act, 2016 vide order No. 1077-JK (GAD) of 2020 dated 27-11-2020. Although such Boards were constituted by previous Governments but on ground level their works remained negligible but the Association hopes that this new board will function properly.
The Association appealed the LG for the implementation of RPWD Act 2016 in the UT of J&K without any delay. They also demanded to conduct a survey of PWDs so that the Government comes to know about the total percentage of people suffering from different disabilities. They said as per the 2011 census there are over 7 lakh people suffering from one or other disability.
Census reports say that the J&K has the highest number of disabled population as compared to other States of India. There were only seven disabilities and now the Government has included 14 more types of disabilities making a total of 21 type of disabilities.The Government should take some steps for their rehabilitation. They said presently disabled persons are receiving monthly pension of Rs 1000 but in view of prevailing inflation it needs to be enhanced upto Rs 5000.
They further demanded that physically challenged Government employees should be transferred to their home localities as per the guidelines of GAD and as per the Government order issued by the Department of Social Welfare under Order No. DSWJ/EST 1443-62 dated 04/12/2006.
They said Government should issue order o SSRB, PSC and other recruiting agencies for filling up of back log posts. They should also be provided soft loans for raising own business.
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