Tank’s disabled take to the street, protest outside commissioner’s office

Sada Bahar Welfare Organisation for Disabled People demanded the establishment of a physiotherapy centre.

DERA ISMAIL KHAN: People with physical disabilities took to the streets in Tank city and walked from the District Headquarters Building to the Commissioner’s office in protest on Tuesday.

The Sada Bahar Welfare Organisation for Disabled Person (SBWODP) had warned that they will protest on February 12 until their demand of establishing a physiotherapy centre in the district is met. Their demands also included implementing the two percent quota for government jobs, issuing special ration cards for the physically impaired, and setting up a vocation training centre to provide them with employable skills.

The protesters raised slogans and carried placards inscribed with words in favour of their demands. They are also demanding Rs150 million to be allocated towards their needs. The speakers at the rally claimed that the government made false promises and is not taking them seriously.

The organisations president in Tank, Gull Badshah, said that there are about 2,500 disabled persons in the district and are being deprived of their basic rights. He alleged that their quota for government jobs is being taken by those who are not disabled.

Badshah also said that the provincial representative from Tank, Ghullah Qadar Bhittani of the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) had promised them Rs 150,000 in the past but never acted on it.

The protesters said that they will continue their efforts until their demands are met.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 13^th, 2013.