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J&K: Over 2 dozen detained during protest march over disabled rights
Police today detained over two dozen members of the All Jammu and Kashmir Handicapped Association during a protest march here on the occasion of World Disability Day.
Police today detained over two dozen members of the All Jammu and Kashmir Handicapped Association during a protest march here on the occasion of World Disability Day.
Scores of members, including children, of the association were protesting against official apathy near the press enclave here when police stopped their rally and took dozens into custody, while children were set free.
"We were protesting peacefully, but police detained us," president of the association, Abdul Rashid Bhat said.
He said the association was protesting against the non-serious approach of the state government in addressing the genuine problems of persons with disabilities.
"We demand our rights be upheld and the schemes for handicapped persons be implemented without delay," he said, adding even after assurances from the government, nothing has been done.
He accused the state government of failing to implement schemes even after the funds have been released by the central government.
"There are many schemes for which the Centre has sanctioned funds, but the state government does not implement the schemes," he added.
The members of the association sat on a hunger strike in October to press for their demands, but called off the four-day strike after assurances from the government that their demands will be met.