Srinagar, Oct 21 (HS): The Jammu and Kashmir Handicapped Association on

Wednesday staged a protest here demanding, among other things, the appointment

of a Disability Commissioner and an increase in pension.

The protesters raised

slogans vociferously in support of their demands.

Speaking to media on the

occasion, association president Abdul Rashid Bhat accused the government of

dragging its feet on their genuine and long-pending demands, forcing them to

take to the streets.

“We have no desire to

come out on the streets, but we are repeatedly given only assurances while our

long-standing issues remain unresolved,” he said.

He said the post of

Disability Commissioner has been lying vacant for the past one and a half years

and the Disability Act, 2016 is not being implemented, causing considerable

hardship to persons with disabilities.

“Our unemployed youth

face problems in finding jobs. We are demanding an increase in pension and

special concessions in electricity bills and education, but these issues are

not being addressed,” Bhat said.

Accusing the government

of political vendetta, the association president said: “It seems this

government is taking political revenge against us, which pains us deeply.”

He warned that if their issues are not resolved,

the association will move to Jammu along with the Darbar Move and stage a

sit-in there.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Zahoor Hussain Bhat