Excelsior Correspondent
UDHAMPUR, Aug 6: The Action Committee for Welfare of SWD beneficiaries and others held one day dharna and took out a massive protest rally at Majalta in favour of their demands.
The rally, conducted under the chairmanship of prominent social activist S S Sumbria, was attended by over thousand SWD beneficiaries and others. After holding dharna, they went round the town of Majalta highlighting their long pending pension related issues with an earnest urge to the district administration for redressal of the same at the earliest.
People from several villages, including Channi Mansar, Majalta, Badi Garh, SK Bair, Dhamma, Nili, Bharnara, Paletar, Palnoo, Babey, Chor Panjian, Chor Motu, Ghar Samnabanj, Kail and adjoining areas participated in the rally and showed strong resentment over the lackadaisical attitude of the department towards the issues of poor handicapped, destitutes, old aged and widows who are facing hardships for no fault of their.
The committee submitted a memorandum of demands to Tehsildar Majalta for further submission to Deputy Commissioner Udhampur. The Tehsildar patiently listened to the issues of the protesters and assured them that he would take up the issue with the concerned.
The demands inter alia include early release of pending pension arrears in the backdrop of pension enhancement to Rs 1000, clearance of pension cases lying pending since March 2009, equal share to people of Majalta in implementation of various Government schemes and distribution of artificial limbs, scooties and tricycles for handicapped beneficiaries, prioritization of pension sanction to deserving who are above 70 years old, beneficiary pension to poor and needy of the area, survey and coverage of deserving under marriage assistance scheme etc.
The committee decided to launch hunger strike from 5th of September, 2017 if the administration does not give any ear to these genuine issues. The committee also made a fervent appeal to common masses and social and political workers besides public representatives to extend their support in this noble cause.