JAMMU: Up in arms against the Jammu and Kashmir Administration over suspension of pensions, the community of specially disabled have served an ultimatum to the concerned authorities announcing ‘halla bol’ on June 15 if the demands are not conceded till time.
“Enough is enough. We will not sit quiet anymore,” said one of the leaders of the Jammu and Kashmir Disabled Welfare Association.
For the last four months, not a single penny has been received in our accounts under the pension scheme, he said, stating that on June 15, a huge rally in the shape of ‘halla bol’ will be taken out if the pension is not restored soon.
“The government has done injustice to the people with disabilities by suddenly suspending the pension they received, which was one of the major sources of their livelihood,” he said.
Claiming that several community people have no other source of meeting their day-to-day needs, pension was the only hope but that too has been suspended for the last four months, expressing that may the government consider their demand on priority and restore the pension scheme.
“The pension scheme was suspended four months ago by issuing an order for the verification of the disabled but, the government has all our records. It is really surprising that in the last four months, the department could not verify our credentials,” said another leader lashing out at the administration for intentionally suspending the suspension.
He further said, “crores are being spent in the name of development and to showcase Jammu and Kashmir a peaceful region at the global platform but it is astonishing that the government does not have this much funds for restoring pension to the ‘Divyangs’. Either the intent is not clear or they do not want to release the pension for the community.”
“If there is no justified or specific reason behind suspending our pension, the Divyangs will be showing their strength on June 15 across Jammu and Kashmir in the form of ‘halla bol’ rallies,” he revealed.
“We want to wake the government from slumber and if they keep turning deaf ears to our demand, then the administration has to pay the price for this attitude,” warned a Disabled Welfare Association leader.
