News

Volume 1 Issue 8 - December 15, 2003

Disabled persons need jobs, not allowances

DNIS News Network -- Haryana's Chief Minister Om Prakash Chautala announced a Rs 50 increase in the monthly allowances of unemployed, educated disabled persons in the state, on World Disability Day.

Mr Chautala was honouring the philanthropists who had donated money for the construction of 'Shravan', a rehabilitation centre for mentally challenged persons aged 18 years and above. While honouring the donors, the Chief minister was caught unawares by a group of visually impaired young men who waved black shawls and shouted slogans against the minister and his government.

Though annoyed, Mr Chautala waited for the uproar to simmer down and then suggested that the demonstrators should approach the government to air their grievances. In his defense, the Chief Minister stated that the government had kept aside Rs 22.31 crore for the welfare of the disability sector this year, as compared to Rs 19.82 crore last year.

However, the demonstrators, belonging to Netarheen Jagrit Sangh, explained that they were protesting the government's callousness in providing employment. Most of them were graduates and postgraduates, yet they hadn't been provided with jobs for several years. The government, they declared, was not keeping its promises to the disability sector.