Srinagar: On the occasion of ‘World Disability Day’, members of Jammu and Kashmir Handicapped Association (JKHA) Thursday hit streets here to press for their long-pending demands including implementation of Disability Act 2016 in the Union Territory.
Chanting slogans “We want justice; Implement Disability Act,2016” dozens of specially-abled persons assembled at Press Enclave here this afternoon and staged a protest against alleged ‘non-serious’ approach of the government in addressing their problems.
Protesters alleged that constructive schemes for the welfare and upliftment of the physically-challenged people are provided in other states of India, but the government of Jammu and Kashmir has failed to provide any assistance or welfare schemes to the disabled people here.
They said the centre introduced the Disability Act in the year 2016 and the same was implemented across India ‘excluding’ Jammu and Kashmir. The specially-abled protesters appealed to the government to implement Disability Act, 2016 so that they do not suffer anymore.
Abdul Rashid Bhat, JKHA president alleged that government has never been serious to address the problems physically-challenged people face in the wake of lack of facilities.
He alleged that they have again been forced to hit streets to bring into the notice of the government the problems they face.
“At a time when disability day is celebrated world-over, we are protesting against the government’s non-serious approach to address our problems. Government never takes our problems seriously, thus forcing us to hit streets in this bone-chilling cold,” Bhat added.
