Demanding that the Andhra Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation (APSRTC) fill all the vacant backlog posts meant for physically handicapped persons all over the State, the Andhra Pradesh Disabled Rights Forum and Rural Development Society for the Deaf Andhra Pradesh will be organizing a dharna of physically handicapped persons at the Bus Bhavan near RTC Crossroads on the morning of October 18.
Speaking to mediapersons here on Sunday, DRF State general secretary P. Srinivas said the State government had issued GO Ms No. 1 on January 9, 2002 directing all the government institutions to earmark three per cent funds for welfare of the disabled persons, who constitute seven percent (over 60 lakhs) in the State’s population and leading miserable life. But, till date no department cared to implement the government order resulting in the disabled persons not getting chances of self-employment, he added.
The DRF leader said the government itself had released scanty funds for the welfare of the disabled and diverted part of the funds for other purposes. While Puducherry was giving Rs 1,500 pension and Tamil Nadu and Tripura governments were paying Rs 1,000 pension to the disabled persons, the Andhra Pradesh government was under the impression that its Rs 500 pension to the disabled persons was more, he said, adding that some 10 lakh disabled who had applied for the paltry pension were eagerly waiting for it for years. As a result of the State government’s step-motherly treatment, the physically handicapped persons were leading miserable life and suicide rate among them was increasing.
The Rural Development Society for the Deaf has demanded that the State government implement the 3% reservation in the APSRTC and fill the government and contract posts. It also demanded that the APSRTC provide 10% reservation to the handicapped in the allotment of shops and parking places in the bus stations. Other demands include concessional bus pass to the deaf; free travel in the metro and hitech buses; reservation of seats in all the buses and so on. (NSS)