GUWAHATI, Dec 3 - Even as Assam celebrated International Day of Persons with Disabilities along with the rest of the world, seven organisations working for the rights of differently abled persons of the state, today staged a protest seeking fulfilment of their various demands.
The protest, led by the Pratibandhi Suraksha Sanstha Asom (PSSA), was supported by the All Assam Blind Students� Union, Dristihin Parishad Asom, All BTAD Pratibandhi Suraksha Sanstha, Kaliabor Sub-division Pratibandhi Sanstha, Pubali Pratibandhi Sanstha and Dukhutia Pratibandhi Sanstha.
As part of the protest, hundreds of persons with disabilities coming from various parts of the State, took out a rally and also staged a sit-in demonstration at Dighalipukhuri. The protesters submitted a memorandum with a charter of demands to the Chief Minister�s Office.
They raised slogans demanding Rs 1,000 as monthly allowance to all persons with disabilities of the State and start of the recruitment drive against 4,419 posts reserved for differently abled persons that are lying vacant in different State government departments. They also demanded a rest house in Guwahati, as assured by the State government earlier.
The protesters also demanded action against the police personnel involved in atrocities on differently abled people during a protest by the PSSA at Dispur Last Gate on October 5.
In the meantime, Social Welfare Minister Pramila Rani Brahma today stated that till date only 23 State government departments have provided data about the vacant posts reserved for differently abled persons. She said 27 departments are yet to provide the data.
�We will start the recruitment drive very soon in a phased manner. Till today we have got confirmation only for 640 posts. I hope by end of this year the advertisement for the recruitment drive will be published,� Brahma told The Assam Tribune.
She also announced that a central university for differently abled persons would be set up in Boko. Regarding monthly allowance, she informed that the process of payment would start after the panchayat election.
Meanwhile, the Kamrup District Legal Services Authority in association with Divine Hand Welfare Organisation today observed the International Day of Persons with Disabilities at Jyoti Niketan, a school for the visually impaired.