STAFF REPORTER
GUWAHATI: The Pratibandhi Suraksha Sanstha, Assam (PSSA) staged a protest on Tuesday at Sachal in Guwahati demanding the restoration of the Divyang Pension Scheme under Section 24 of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (RPWD) Act, 2016, and various other demands.
Hundreds of persons with disabilities from various areas of the state gathered to protest, urging the government not to discriminate against them. The organization has warned the government that if their issues are not resolved immediately, they will gherao Janata Bhawan on March 7.
A memorandum has been sent to Chief Minister Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma, and the copies of the memorandum have also been sent to the Prime Minister's Office in New Delhi, the Union Minister for Social Justice and Empowerment, and the Director General of Assam Police, in support of their demands.
The body also demanded the filling in of 3,556 vacant backlog posts, the implementation of a 4% quota for them in all government recruitments, the provincialization of the only higher secondary school for visually impaired students in Assam, and the provision of government housing for every disabled individual.
General Secretary of the PSSA, Nripen Malakar, accused the government of continuously neglecting persons with disabilities. He stated, "Despite its claims of development, this government continues to deprive disabled individuals of their rightful entitlements. They forget solving our problems-they haven't even conducted the promised meeting in December 2024 after giving us written assurances. If our demands are not met within the stipulated time, the government should prepare for an intense agitation."
The organization has made multiple appeals for legal and constitutional measures to ensure the social and economic security of disabled individuals, but there has been no visible action. As per Section 24 of the RPWD Act, 2016, the state government must provide an additional 25% financial assistance of the total amount of any government scheme to disabled individuals. This means that instead of Rs 1,250 under Orunodoi, individuals with disabilities should receive Rs 1,563.
Also read: Assam Government Fails to Address Issues of Specially-abled Persons: PSSA
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