Disabled persons protest in Srinagar, demand social and economic rights
Srinagar: On the International Day of Persons with Disabilities, members of the Handicapped Association in Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) held a protest in Srinagar, urging the authorities to fulfill long-pending demands related to social security, financial relief and legal safeguards.
According to Kashmir Media Service, dozens of persons with disabilities gathered at the Press Enclave in Srinagar carrying placards and banners calling for an end to official neglect and discrimination. Protesters raised slogans demanding immediate action.
Speaking on the occasion, Association President Abdul Rashid Butt pressed for the urgent implementation of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016, in the occupied territory.
He said the current monthly pension of 1,250 rupees for persons with disabilities is grossly insufficient amid rising economic hardships. “We demand that it be increased to at least 3,000 rupees,” he added.
He further called for interest-free loans for persons with disabilities to help them earn a dignified livelihood. “We should be provided interest-free loans so we can start small businesses and stand on our own feet,” he said.
The Association also demanded concessions on essential commodities and a reduction in LPG prices for disabled persons. Butt criticized the IIOJK administration for making hollow promises and failing to take concrete steps. He warned that if their genuine demands were not met, the Association would launch an indefinite sit-in outside the Assembly Secretariat.
