Karnataka - Bellary   

Disabled persons protest against apathy of officials in Bellary

BELLARY: Several physically and visually challenged persons, on Monday, blocked the main gate to the office of the Deputy Commissioner, in protest against the use of inappropriate language by the Bellary tahsildar, when asked to solve their problems. The snap strike by the physically-challenged, who had come from various parts of the district, lasted for over an hour. They alleged that the official and his staff had showed scant respect to them, when approached for issue of income certificates.

They were also agitated over the delay in the commencement of the meeting, scheduled to begin at 11.00 a.m. on Monday, and over the inability of the officials to be present. They, however, withdrew the strike when the tahsildar tendered an apology. Later, at the grievance redressal meeting, they drew the attention of Deputy Commissioner Arvind Srivastav towards their plight.

“We were made to visit the tahsildar’s office many times, while the staff were least interested in attending to our work. We have been extremely pained at their disrespect,” they said. Last Saturday, the tahsildar had reportedly been rude to Eshwarappa, a visually-challenged person, who had met him to get an income certificate.

According to them, of the total 16 departments concerned with ensuring their welfare, officials from only four departments had attended the meeting.

Mr. Srivastav said the Government was keen on ensuring their welfare, and had announced several schemes to help them. The delay in implementing some of the schemes such as “Ashraya,” was owing to verification of records, to avoid misuse by ineligible persons. Steps were being taken to implement schemes such as loan disbursal, under the Prime Minister’s Rozgar Yojana, he said, and added that funds were being arranged to

provide them with tricycles. He suggested that they meet him directly if they encountered further delays and hassles. When some of them pointed out that they had been finding it difficult to enter the office premises, owing to the

cattle trap installed at the main gate, Mr. Srivastav promised them that steps would be taken to provide an alternative gate for entry.

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Disabled persons protest against apathy of officials in Bellary

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