Video Editor: Ashutosh Bhardwaj
Seated on her wheelchair in Delhi’s Jantar Mantar, Sujatha Suryavamshi says that Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s bid to rename those like her as Divyang hasn’t helped much. What is really needed, she stresses, is “political reservation to India’s differently abled, so that their voices are heard.”
Suryavamshi, along with 30 other differently-abed persons from Telangana, had traveled over 1,500 kilometres to New Delhi’s Jantar Mantar, where they held a protest on Tuesday, 7 August 2018.
We want 5% reservation for differently-abled persons, from Panchayat to the State Assembly so that our problems are heard. Only we know the difficulties we face everyday.Sujatha Suryavamshi
Echoing Suryavamshi, another protester Venugopal says, “No one understands our problem. Having a person in the Parliament will help us immensely.” His friend Ramesh adds that “every time we go and speak to officials, they only assure us of action but never fulfill their promises.”
As part of its Asara scheme, Telangana provides a monthly pension of Rs 1,500 to differently-abled persons in the state. But protesters say that amount is too little to sustain their families. Jai Hari, who works as a carpenter, says there are times when he goes without work for days and it becomes difficult to sustain his family.
Sometimes we don’t get work, which makes life difficult. How will I look after my family? The pension should be increased to Rs 5,000. Even the Rs 1,500 doesn’t get transferred in time.Jai Hari
A combination of unstable income and low pension often leaves no money in the hands of these protesters – most pay up to Rs 3,000 in rent alone. Protesters feel that along with a hike in pension, they must also receive housing facilities from the state government.
The Rights of Persons With Disabilities Act 2016 provides 4% reservation in Central government jobs for the differently abled. But this hasn’t helped Gokul, who completed his masters in English Literature five years back.
I’ve been applying for jobs, but haven’t secured one yet. I’m not getting a job because of the reservation policy. Visually impaired and deaf and dumb people enjoy higher points in job application than those who are orthopedically handicapped.Gokul
Today, Gokul barely manages to make ends meet on a monthly pension of Rs 1,500 that is often delayed. Even after arming himself with a MA degree, he continues to live on financial support from his parents.
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