On the occasion of World Disability Day, Jammu and Kashmir Handicapped Association (JKHA) members held a protest at Srinagar against the what they said ‘callous attitude’ of the government in addressing the problems of people with disabilities.

The protesters who assembled here in Press Enclave Srinagar under the banner of the association and termed this day will as a black day.

 Abdul Rasheed Butt, President of the Jammu and Kashmir Handicapped Association demanded that the Disability Act-2016 should be implemented in Jammu and Kashmir as soon as possible and focuses on resolving the remaining issues as Jammu and Kashmir has now become a central region.

He blamed that over the years, governments have failed to implement any welfare measures for the physically challenged.

“Despite writing several times to LG Manoj Sinha, seeking a meeting, there was no response, although many delegations meet him.”

“Offering us Scoties or tricycles won’t help, there are qualified youth among us who are trained from ITI, we want Jobs for unemployed physically challenged persons and asking for it is our right,” said butt.

“In this era of inflation we are just getting pension of Rs 500, which is not enough for one day survival”, another protestor added.

Butt said that people with disabilities in Jammu and Kashmir have been mistreated by the entire government whether it is the central government or the state government.

And the state government has always assured us that they will provide all the benefits to the disabled people that the law and the constitution have given them but after the meeting nothing is being done for the disabled people and nothing is visible on the ground.

He along with other protestors requested the Central and State Governments to meet their demands as they are facing a lot of problems.

They added that they have no choice but to protest, because the government here is not paying any attention to them.

At the end of the protest Abdul Rashid Butt thanked all the physically challenged people who have contributed to the success of this programme.