Bathinda, October 27

Miffed with the state government for not paying heed to their demands for the past several years, members of the Physically Disabled Persons’ Association today took out a march near Ambedkar Chowk in the city.

It is pertinent to mention here that the union members had begun their protest at the chowk on Tuesday. Beginning their protest against the state government with a chain hunger strike by Bhupinder Singh, the protesters also threatened that they would be left with no option but to intensify their stir and continue with their chain hunger strike. Raising slogans, the protesters stated that the government was oblivious of the fact that they had been facing acute financial crunch. Elaborating on their demands, the union leaders stated that the state government was yet to clear the backlog of three per cent jobs in government sector and five per cent jobs in private sector to physically-handicapped persons. They added that special skill development centres should be opened for them to help them become self-reliant.

The protesters also demanded a free helpline, free-of-cost plots of land for constructing houses, blue cards, free education and coverage under the Shagun scheme. — TNS

Source: http://www.tribuneindia.com/news/bathinda/unheard-differently-abled-hold-rally/315784.html