PWDs hold protest for release of disability pension

PWDs torching the effigy of Director Social Welfare during a protest in Jammu. -Excelsior/Rakesh
PWDs torching the effigy of Director Social Welfare during a protest in Jammu. -Excelsior/Rakesh

Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, June 15: Up in arms against alleged callous attitude of the Social Welfare Department and the LG administration, physically challenged persons held a protest demonstration, here today.
A number of handicapped persons assembled for holding protest demonstration against no release of disability pension for the last few months. They raised slogans against the Social Welfare Department and LG administration holding them responsible for delay in releasing the pension.
The protesters accused the Government of being insensitive towards the physically challenged people. They raised slogans against Social Welfare Department and burnt an effigy of its director.
“Despite submission of all the required documents, the Social Welfare Department is not releasing the pension for handicapped persons for the last few months in the name of verification,” the protesting handicapped persons said.
They said earlier the Department told us to make UDID cards to get their pension released and now they are seeking other documents, just to deny pension a meager pension of Rs 1000 to persons with disabilities (PWDs).
The protesting PWDs demanded the Government to restore pension of those physically challenged persons who were drawing pension earlier and make new rules for those who are applying first time for the disability pension.