Srinagar, Feb 23: Several members of the Jammu and Kashmir Handicapped Association (JKHA) were detained by police today while staging a peaceful protest in Srinagar, demanding immediate government intervention to address the longstanding issues faced by the disabled community. A large number of JKHA members gathered near Press Enclave, Srinagar, holding banners and raising slogans against the government’s alleged inaction towards their rights and welfare. The demonstrators expressed disappointment over successive administrations failing to improve their living conditions and called for urgent reforms.
The association highlighted key demands, including a special recruitment drive for qualified disabled individuals, an increase in monthly disability pension from ₹1,000 to ₹5,000, and low-interest, subsidized loans to promote financial independence. They also called for vertical reservation in government jobs, four percent reservation in MGNREGA work as well as in assemblies, municipalities, and panchayats, the formation of an advisory board for the socio-economic development of disabled individuals, and separate counters in government offices and banks to ensure hassle-free services.
As the protestors attempted to march onto the main road outside Press Enclave, police intervened and detained several JKHA members. However, they were released later in the day. The Jammu and Kashmir Handicapped Association has urged the administration to take immediate action on their demands, warning that they will continue their protests until concrete measures are implemented to secure the rights and welfare of the disabled community in Jammu and Kashmir.