Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Aug 14: To highlight the problems faced by them in day today life, the dumb and deaf children along with their parents and guardians, organized a rally under the banner of Association of Parents of Hearing Handicapped, J&K, here today.
Apart from a large number of children, the parents and guardians including men and women participated in the rally with placards and banners in their hands highlighting their demands.
The peaceful rally began from Shahidi Chowk Jammu at 9:30 in the morning which after passing through Residency Road culminated at Press Club Jammu, where they addressed the media persons.
The demands projected included provision of School and Hostel for deaf and dumb children, besides implementing Disability Act of 1998 along with giving 1 percent reservation in Government jobs to Hearing Impaired.
While highlighting the demands, Bashir Ahmed Dar, president of the Association said that the State Government has ignored these children as if they are not the part of the society.
He said that Government despite tall promises and assurances has failed to implement any policy with regard to welfare of these children.
Roshan Bhan, Principal of School for Hearing Handicapped, Shaidi Chowk Jammu, also highlighted the problems and said that there is just one school for these children, which was established way back in 1981 by an NGO.
General secretary of APHH J&K, Parveen Singh and Vice president Gopal Sharma appealed the Government to open educational institutions with trained teachers in sign language at an earliest.
Others among the guardians included Shiv Kumar, Raju Ji, Sam Dhan, Bhadur Singh, Sham Lal, Prabhu Singh, Qasim Salaria, Abdul Hamid, Rani Devi, Satya Devi, Rukhsana Akhter, Reeta Devi, Ajay Raina and Nanak Chand.