| On World Disability Day, disabled protest State apathy | | | Javaid Naikoo
Srinagar, Dec 3: On World Disability Day today, the disabled people at many places across the Kashmir protested against the state's apathy and demanded special facilities.
Dozens of disabled boys and girls who had come from different parts of Kashmir protested in Srinagar against the state government for depriving them of their basic facilities which include separate schools and monthly financial assistance.
Boys and girls with different disabilities carrying placards and banners in press enclave Srinagar put forth their demands. "We are disabled but please separate us from handicapped. We need our separate rights." Read one of the placards. Likewise boys with speaking disability demanded justice. "Allow us to perform for the betterment of the society," a banner conveyed. Others urged people to feel their sufferings. "We don't listen and can't talk, But you can feel our suffering," their banners said.
Similar reports have been received from South Kashmir's Shopian district where disabled boys and girls started their protest from Boys Higher secondary school Shopian and marched through different markets of the town. Pertinently according to 2001 census report there are 2,72,816 males and 130,853 female disabled persons in the state with different types of disabilities like seeing, speech, hearing, movement and mental. As per reports, the percentage of disabled population in J&K is higher in comparison to northern states of Punjab (1.74 %) and Himachal Pradesh (2.56 %) and Union Territory of Chandigarh (1.72 %). |
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