The Newz Radar
SHIMLA: Unemployed visually impaired persons staged a protest on Tuesday (January 30, 2024) in front of the Secretariat in Shimla, bringing traffic to a standstill and demanding written assurances from the Himachal Pradesh government regarding their employment rights.
The visually impaired demonstrators, numbering in dozens, converged at the Secretariat early in the morning, promptly blocking the road and disrupting vehicular movement. Queues of vehicles piled up on both sides of the Secretariat where Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu sits as the protesters remained steadfast in their demands for government action.
The protesters voiced their grievances, decrying the government’s failure to address their concerns regarding employment opportunities. Surekha, a protester, highlighted the backlog of quota vacancies, emphasising that despite assurances from authorities, no concrete steps had been taken to address their plight.
Lucky, another protester, expressed disillusionment with political promises, recounting how promises made during election campaigns remained unfulfilled when it came to securing the rights of the visually impaired community. Despite assurances from Chief Minister Sukhvinder Sukhu on December 4, 2023, regarding a decision within a month, the protesters lamented the lack of action from the government.
Devant Kumar, echoing the sentiments of his fellow demonstrators, affirmed their resolve to continue the agitation until their demands were met. The visually impaired individuals, some of whom have been fasting for over two months, stressed the urgency of their cause and reiterated their determination to persist until tangible progress was achieved.
In response to the protests, Chief Minister Sukhu said the government was aware of the backlog issue concerning the visually impaired persons. He said the government was exploring options to provide relaxations in rules to accommodate their demands. As the protest enters its 97th day in Shimla, the demonstrators remain resolute in their pursuit of equitable opportunities and recognition of their rights within government institutions.
