A large number of physically challenged persons from all over the district came to the city to participate in a dharna opposite the Collectorate here on Monday as part of Vikalangula Hakkula Porta Samiti (VHPS)’s Vikalangula Poru Yatra that commenced in the district on June 18.
Founder of VHPS Manda Krishna Madiga attended the dharna and came down heavily on the State government for not addressing itself to the plight of physically challenged. Though the then Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy assured several facilities to the physically challenged persons, present Chief Minister N. Kiran Kumar Reddy was not bothered about them, he alleged. Mr. Krishna Madiga warned the Congress that the physically challenged would teach it a lesson if their demands were not conceded. The population of physically challenged was 6 crores in the country but little was being done to alleviate their difficulties, he said.
VHPS is organising a ‘Chalo Assembly’ programme in Hyderabad on July 28 as part of its agitation.
The VHPS wanted five per cent of seats in the local bodies reserved for physically challenged and strict implementation of three per cent reservation for them in employment.
K. Venkata Rao, district convenor of VHPS and others participated. The VHPS regretted that the governments were not bothered about the physically challenged persons who could not lead their life on their own, but providing reservations and subsidies based on caste and community to the able bodied persons who can earn their livelihood on their own.
The demands of VHPS included increase of pension for physically challenged from Rs. 500 to Rs. 1,500; implementation of schemes and subsides on par with SCs and STs; creation of a sub-plan for physically challenged; free housing, power supply and transport; priority to physically challenged in distribution of land; increase in special allowance to physically challenged employees from Rs. 900 to Rs. 1,500, etc.
