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May 26, 2011
Handicapped persons start 72-hr long hunger strike-India
The following information was downloaded from the mailing list of "Disability and Development" with a cooperation of the publisher, Mr. Soya Mori.
WEDNESDAY, 25 MAY 2011 22:38 KDNN
Srinagar: Accusing the government of indifference, scores of handicapped persons Wednesday began a 72-hour-long hunger strike here, to press for their demands.
Scores of handicapped persons under the banner of Jammu and Kashmir Handicapped Association staged a protest demonstration at the Press Enclave here this morning.
Carrying placards that read “Down with the Social Welfare Department,” “Fulfill our demands immediately,” and “Give free education to our children,” the protesters were demanding implementation of Disability Act 1998, which provides 3 per cent reservation to handicapped persons in government jobs, increase in monthly financial support from 400 rupees to 1500 rupees, introduction of the Braille system of education in Jammu and Kashmir, replacement of diesel motorcycles in place of tricycles, etc.
“Leave alone solving our problems the authorities are not even serious about listening to us. That’s why we have decided to sit on a hunger strike to draw the government’s attention,” Sajad Ahmad Masoodi. President J&K Handicapped Association said.
Sajad further revealed that there were 3.6 lakh physically challenged people in the state, with the largest number of handicapped people belonging to Kupwara and Baramulla district of north Kashmir.
“Kupwara has 38,530 physically challenged people while the number has shot up to 39,421 in Baramulla district," Sajad said.
http://www.kashmirdispatch.com/city/25053523-handicapped-persons-start-72-hr-long-hunger-strike.htm
Posted by jicafriends at May 26, 2011 04:50 PM