Police foil disabled persons’ march; dozens detained

Police on Monday detained over two dozen members of the J&K Handicapped Association (JKHA) when they tried to take out a protest march in Lal Chowk area here on the occasion of World Disability Day.

The JKHA members, including children, had gathered at the Mushtaq Press Enclave and tried to stage a protest march against “government apathy” when police stopped them and took dozens into custody.
Earlier, speaking to reporters, JKHA president Abdul Rasheed Bhat said that the government was not paying attention to the long-pending demands of the disabled persons.

“We have decided to observe World Disability Day as a black day because every time the government promises us that our demands will be fulfilled but then forgets everything,” he said

The protest was later joined by disabled students of Zaiba-Appa Institute of Inclusive Education Bijbehara. Carrying placards “We don’t want pension, We want education” “Give us our rights”, the students said the aim of protest was to inform the general public about the difficulties being faced by the disabled persons.
Bhat  flayed the government’s non-serious approach in addressing the genuine problems of the disabled persons.

"We demand our rights be upheld and the schemes for handicapped persons be implemented without delay," he said, adding even after assurances from the government, nothing has been done.
He accused the state government of failing to implement  schemes even after the funds have been released by  Government of India

"There are many schemes for which the Centre has sanctioned funds, but the state government does not implement the schemes," he added.

 The members of the association sat on a hunger strike in October to press for their demands, but called off the four-day strike after assurances from the government that their demands will be met.

Disabled persons threaten immolation

Dozens of members of the Jammu and Kashmir Handicapped Association (JKHA), who are on an indefinite hunger strike since Monday, have threatened self- immolation if the government fails to address their demands.
“If our demands are not met by October 4, we will set ourselves on fire,” Abdul Rasheed Bhat, President JKHA, said   on Tuesday at the Press Enclave here.
The JKHA, Rasheed said, had hoped that the hunger strike would “awaken the callous government from its deep slumber but nothing has happened so far.”
“Not even a single official from government has come here,” Rasheed said,
According to Bhat,  there are 3.6 lakh physically challenged people in the Valley. “. The number of handicapped persons in Jammu and Kashmir is in lakhs but still the government is unmoved by our plight,”  said Bhat.
Bhat said that following several days of hunger strike and protests  by the disabled persons in May this year, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah had “promised  to fulfill our genuine demands but nothing has happened so far.”
The demands by the association include reservations in government jobs, enhancement of monthly pension from Rupees 400 to 1500, low interest loans, free education to the children of handicapped persons, to provide similar facilities as provided to SC and St categories, 50% concession in electricity bill, setting up of a handicapped advisory board, and introduction of Braille instruction based education system from primary to university level in the state. The JKHA also demands free medical aid in government hospital, opening of special counters for them in all government departments, provision of artificial limbs, free water connections and installation of solar lights near their houses and re-advertisement of backlog vacancies reserved for the handicapped persons.
Meanwhile, a JKHA member, Farooq Ahmed Bandana of Handwara was shifted to SKIMS Soura after his condition deteriorated on the second day of the hunger strike.

Disabled persons start indefinite hunger strike

Scores of J&K Handicapped Association (JKHA) members Monday camped at the Press Enclave here to launch an indefinite hunger strike against “government indifference ” towards  their long pending  demands.

“Every time we are promised that our demands will be raised in state assembly but nothing happens. This time we are holding an indefinite hunger strike just to awaken the callous government,” Abdul Rasheed Bhat, President, Jammu and Kashmir Handicapped Association told Kashmir Reader.

“Last time when we held indefinite strike, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah assured us that our demands will be addressed,” said Bhat, adding “but the promises proved hoax.”

According to Bhat there are 3.6 lakh physically challenged people in the Valley. “It is not the matter of few persons. The number of handicapped persons in the state is very huge,” said Bhat. “But the successive governments have ignored our plight,” he added.

Claiming that a huge number of people have lost their legs, eyes and hands during the years of insurgency, Bhat said the number has increased since extensively.

Demanding a higher education institution for the handicapped persons in the state, another member, Mohammad Shafi said, “Currently there is no school for the higher education in the Jammu and Kashmir for handicapped persons.”

“We do not need any promise what we want is concrete action on practical ground,” Shafi added.

“Government has sanctioned a meager rupees 400 per month for us which is in no way sufficient for us but even that amount is paid after lapse of months,” Shafi said. Shafi complained that government was showing “zero sympathy to us.”

The demands by the association include reservations in government jobs, enhancement of monthly pension from Rupees 400 to 1500, low interest loans, free education to the children of handicapped persons, to provide similar facilities as provided to SC and St categories, 50% concession in electricity bill, setting up of a handicapped advisory board, and introduction of Braille instruction based education system from primary to university level in the state. The JKHA also demands free medical aid in government hospital, opening of special counters for them in all government departments, provision of artificial limbs, free water connections and installation of solar lights near their houses and re-advertisement of backlog vacancies reserved for the handicapped persons.

Only surgeon at highway trauma hospital transferred out

Emergency hospital Qazi Gund  that has been set on Srinagar Jammu highway proving  pivotal in taking any accident on this road, has been without a surgeon for past 10 days since  the surgeon posted there has moved to Sub district hospital Chadoora without been relieved from hospital.

According to sources in the Emergency Hospital Qazigund, a few months back Dr Nazir Ahmed was transferred to District Budgam and a new medico was brought there who was a plastic surgeon.
“The department raised objection with our concerned officials and they held back transfer of the previous doctor,” the source said.
He added that some 15 days ago Dr Nazir Ahmed left for Chadoora hospital following his transfer order, but the hospital administration was not duely informed.
Medical Superintendent (MS) of the hospital, Dr SM Andrabi said that he was unaware about the transfer. “I even don’t receive his transfer copy how would I have relieved him. I wrote to Block Development Officer (BDO) Kulgam and he assured immediate action.”
Constructed at a cost of Rs 13 crore primarily for handling trauma cases the emergency hospital at Qazigund faces dearth of staff and medicines which results in most of the emergency cases shifted either to Anantnag or Srinagar.
“We are helpless. We lack both manpower as well as medicines, that is the reason most of the patients who come here with major injuries have to either be referred to District hospital Anantnag or SHMS or SKIMS in Srinagar,” a doctor said.
“This trauma hospital even doesn’t have generator to run X-Ray machines in times of electricity curtailment. If a patient comes he has to get X-Ray done from Anantnag then come here for treatment,” said another doctor.
Minister of State for Health & Medical Education, Javaid Ahmed Dar, said, JKPCC has done construction without taking suggestion from the experts which resulted in problems.
“We will look into the matter and all positive steps will be taken to improve the setup of Qazigund emergency hospital,” Dar told Kashmir Reader.

Jackboot on Wakf land too

Army occupies 330 kanals in Poonch

 

Srinagar: More than 300 kanals of land belonging to Wakf (Auqaf Islamia) land is under army’s occupation in border district of Poonch, the government said on Thursday.
 

“The total area of Wakf land under the illegal occupation of locals is 49 kanals and one marla, and the Wakf land under the illegal occupation of army is 330 kanals in district Poonch,” said Minister for Hajj and Auqaf, Ajaz Ahmed Khan in a written reply to a question by National Conference MLA, Ejaz Ahmad Jan in the Legislative Council here.
 

Jan wanted to know when these occupants will be evicted and the land restored to its real caretakers.
 

“The matter was taken up with the Ministry of Defence for getting the land vacated. The ministry (through its letter dated 24-12-2011) has assured to examine the matter urgently. But till date neither the land nor the rent paid to the Auqaf Islamia by army,” the minister replied.
 

Mehbooba condemns ‘ban’ on Facebook, YouTube

‘Don’t force youth to pelt stones

: Coming down heavily on the state government for “partially banning” social network sites Facebook and YouTube, the People’s Democratic Party president Mehbooba Mufti on Thursday alleged that government wants to frustrate the youth of Kashmir.
“The government wants to frustrate the youth in the Valley by putting curbs on them. Facebook act as a platform for them to express their anger and give vent to their feelings, and a ban on it will have a direct impact on the psyche of the youth. They will come and pelt stones,” Mehbooba told the Legislative Assembly.
“Youth of Kashmir have been confined to their homes. Instead of encouraging them to express their opinion on these social sites, you are provoking them to come to streets by banning SMS, blocking access to Facebook and YouTube,” she said.
Mehbooba said the social networking sites are the “only connecting link” between the youth of the state studying and working outside and their families. “There were protests outside the state against the anti-Islam movie but nowhere such harsh and draconian steps were taken by any of the state governments like Chennai, Haryana etc,” she said.
When Mehbooba demanded Speaker Assembly Mohammad Akbar Lone to “pass directions to the government”, the latter rejected it saying “Government is listening, let them take time and solve it. Let us give government time.”
Mehbooba’s demand was supported by Yousuf Tarigami and Independent MLA Er Abdul Rashid.

MLAs can be frisked for House security

Speaker of Legislative Assembly, Mohammad Akbar Lone, Tuesday announced that all MLAs would be frisked if the security staff inside the House feels it necessary.

Lone made the announcement after Independent MLA from Langate, Engineer Rasheed asked why his personal secretary was not allowed into the House despite having proper permission.

“There will be no compromise on the security of the House,” Lone said. “The security is for the whole House, not only me.”

The statement came a day after the ruckus in the House on Monday after three youth from Jammu jumped into the well of the House and raised slogans demanding implementation of employment policy in the state.
As Engineer Rasheed kept on raising the question, Speaker shouted at him saying, “You may say anything but we will on compromise on the security of the House.”

Lone also accused Rasheed of “staging drama in the House” to invite the media attention. “You don’t come here to seek solution to the people’s problems but to create drama to invite media attention and get your stories and photographs published,” said Speaker.

He also accused Rasheed of violating the constitution of India by talking about right to self-determination for people of Kashmir. “Nobody in the House takes you seriously now. Go and talk about right to self-determination somewhere else.”

Rasheed, in his response, walked out from the House.

In the meantime, National Conference MLA from Gurez, Nazir Gurezi asked the Speaker if he made the remark about the frisking of MLAs in anger.

 “It seems that you made the remark in anger,” said Gurezi. But the Speaker said that he made the statement consciously. “I did not make the statement in anger, I reiterate that members of the House could be subjected to frisking if the security personnel have doubt on anyone,” he said.