Tribune News Service

Patiala, July 29

The Punjab wing of the National Federation of the Blind took out a protest march against the government’s “failure” to fulfil their long-pending demands, here on Sunday.

The protesters had planned to march to the Chief Minister’s residence, but were stopped by the police on Sirhind road. 

The protesters were demanding filling up of several vacant posts for visually impaired in the government departments and the clearance of the backlog of promotions of visually impaired employees. They said the monthly conveyance allowance should be increased from Rs 750 per month to Rs 1,000. Vivek Munga, president of the National Federation of the Blind, Punjab, said: “Visually impaired employees working in various departments for the past five years should be promoted immediately.” 

Parminder Singh Phulewal, press secretary of the protesting union, said: “Separate hostels should be built for the visually impaired students in various colleges.” 

Superintendent of Police (city) Kesar Singh said: “We have stopped the protestors on Sirhind road. However, they have submitted a memorandum of their demands to the administration.” 

The protesters called off the protest after they were assured of a meeting with the Chief Minister’s Office on August 8 in Patiala. In the end, Gurpreet Singh Chahal, a protester, said: “In the past, our meetings with the CM have been cancelled at the last moment. We will intensify our protest if the meeting is cancelled again.”