Physically challenged persons block Hill Cart Road protesting against State Govt inaction

Prashant Acharya, EOI, Siliguri, 20 August 2014: Hundreds of physically challenged people under the banner ‘Prayash Welfare Development Society’ blocked Hill Cart Road near the Air View More this afternoon for nearly an hour protesting against alleged false assurances given by the state government in violation of the Persons with Disabilities Act, 1995.

After the police succeeded in coercing them to lift the blockade, the demonstrators took out a rally and headed for the Siliguri SDO office where they handed SDO Deepa Priya a deputation comprising 14 demands to be placed before Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.

PWDS member Arga Bose, who led the rally, said, “The PWD Act guarantees us equal rights and various facilities, but in reality we have remained deprived of them, especially in North Bengal.”

Rajkumar Nascal, special educator for visually-impaired students, said their demands include right to education, health benefits and others guaranteed by the PWD Act 1995. He said public transport in North Bengal do not have seats reserved for the physically challenged, let alone free commutation. The state government used to provide a monthly stipend of Rs300 for physically challenged students, but the amount has been reduced to Rs200 now, Nascal added.

Only 70 to 80 physically challenged persons above 18 years are receiving facilities such as pension, while the remaining majority is still knocking on the doors of government departments, according to the teacher. Some PWDS members also alleged physically challenged persons get harassed by security personnel while travelling in trains. They said the railways has kept aside a special compartment for the disabled, but police on duty usually sell almost all the seats to normal people.