Protests, rallies, cultural events mark World Disability Day in Jammu

Deaf and dumb persons staging protest at Exhibition Ground (left) and PwDs taking out protest rally from Press Club (right) in Jammu. -Excelsior/Rakesh
Deaf and dumb persons staging protest at Exhibition Ground (left) and PwDs taking out protest rally from Press Club (right) in Jammu. -Excelsior/Rakesh

Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Dec 3: On World Disability Day, protests, several cultural events, besides protests and rallies were organized by the Persons with Disabilities (PwDs) in different parts of Jammu.

To mark the occasion, a protest rally was taken out by J&K Handicapped Welfare Association, Jammu from Press Club Jammu to Civil Secretariat, Jammu. A large number of PwDs of all age groups participated in the rally during which they raised slogans against the J&K administration for ignoring their demands.
Speaking on the occasion, president of the Association, Kamal said that Government issues several orders for the welfare of PwDs but they are never implemented on the ground. He demanded that UDID of PwDs should be valid everywhere, whether it is railways, public transport, or any other department to avail facilities being provided to handicapped persons.
Jammu and Kashmir Association of the Deaf held a protest demonstration against the apathy J&K Service Selection Board on Class-IV appointments, near Press Club, Jammu. The protestors requested the J&K Administration headed by Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha to conduct thorough investigation in the selection process of Cass-IV especially (4% handiciapped quota) on the analogy of investigation initiated in the Sub-Inspector, Engineers and Finance Accounts Assistants selection lists as J&K Service Selection Board has not considered the hearing loss while fixing the merit for selection.
Furthermore, they requested the LG Administration to enhance the monthly pension of the Disabled from present Rs 1000 per month to at least Rs 3000 per month, take urgent steps to provide driving licenses to deaf & dumb persons, give special concessions to them in establishing their business implement Handicapped Act 2016 in letter and spirit.
The Day was observed in Akhnoor by Jammu and Kashmir Disabled Welfare Trust by organizing a programme which was graced by MP Rajya Sabha Gulam Ali Khatana as chief guest and ex-minister Sham Lal Sharma as guest of honour. The guests were welcomed by Sushil Sharma (chairman, J&K Disabled Welfare Trust).
Gulam Ali Khatana, while speaking on the occasion, said that disabled people were neglected again and again by the previous Governments but present regime under leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi is committed to resolve all the grievances PwDs while Sham Lal Sharma asserted that the BJP Government stands fully committed to provide succour to all the sections of the society with special focus on ameliorating the poor, needy and disabled persons.
Sham Lal (president, J&K Disabled Welfare Trust), Atul Sudan (State vice president, Jammu Joint Students Federation), Dr BD Sharma (vice president Saksham NGO), Umesh Sharma (chairman, Disable Care Foundation), Charan Dass (chairman, JK Handicap Welfare Forum), Raghuvir Singh (social activist), Sushant Gupta and many others were presen on the occasion.
On International Day of Persons with Disabilities, Samagra Shiksha under the aegis of School Education Department, J&K organized a cultural event at Teachers’ Bhawan. Principal Secretary, School Education Department, Alok Kumar was the chief guest on the occasion while Dr Ravi Shankar Sharma, Director School Education Jammu and Manisha Sarin (Secretary JKBOSE) also graced the occasion. Children presented heart-throbbing performances one after the other and mesmerized the audience with their extra-ordinary talents.
Alok Kumar in his address said that the specially abled students must be renamed as Specially Talented students, who performed at par with professional people. He maintained that, all the facilities, shall be provided to them under Inclusive Education, so that they may excel in their life. He said that, awareness needs to be imparted to general public, about the rights, security and development of Children with Special Needs.
FICCI FLO in collaboration with Maharaja Hari Singh Foundation organized a programme titled ‘Divya Rang’ at Muskan Home, on the occasion of World Disability Day. The programme was inaugurated by Ritu Singh, founding chairperson of FICCI FLO. Esther William, Mona Saraf and Kritika Khanna along with members of Hari Singh Foundation presented beautiful songs composed for this special occasion.
On the occasion, a workshop of block printing on pillow cases under trainer Pankaj Kapoor was also kick-started for the inmates of Muskan Home. On the request of the Muskan Home, Ritu Singh presented the centre three steel almirahs from Hari Singh Foundation. Besides, FLO gave the inmates blocks, paints and pillow covers to kick-start the skill set.
Jiger, Dogra Sawa Sambhal Trust and Humanity Welfare Organization Helpline Gangyal under its patron Sandhya Dhar observed World Disability Day by organizing a programme at Ram Leela Ground, Gangyal. Commissioner Disabilities Iqbal Lone, Commissioner Relief and Rehabilitation MK Sidha, Deputy Mayor Baldev Singh Billawaria, BJP Mahila Morcha J&K spokesperson Ritika Trehan and social activist Raman Gupta were special guests of the function.
Commissioner Disabilities Iqbal Lone speaking on the occasion said that there was a need to introduce latest prosthetic, orthotic equipments to help people with disabilities. He reiterated the Government’s commitment to support the persons with disabilities. Ritika Trehan stressed for creating a conducive environment to make life of persons with disabilities easy so that they could feel comfortable in the society. On the occasion, she also donated Rs 20,000 for welfare of disabled persons.
Government College of Education Jammu celebrated World Disability Day. Prof Aekta Gupta, Principal honored Dr Tahira Shah, Professor of Urdu and non-teaching staff member Anil on the occasion. She asserted in her speech that disability inclusion is an essential condition to upholding human rights, sustainable development, and peace and security.
Dr Shubhra Jamwal, NSS PO said that disability awareness programs are influential to the overall environment of the institutions.