This story is from December 3, 2016

World Disability Day observed as black day, PWDs threaten to boycott upcoming elections

World Disability Day observed as black day, PWDs threaten to boycott upcoming elections
Uttarakhand Chief Minister Harish Rawat
Dehradun: A large number of people with disabilities (PWDs) in Dehradun marked World Disability Day as a ‘black day’ by wearing black ribbons and boycotted Uttarakhand Divyang Mahotsav- 2016, a function held by the social welfare department alleging that chief minister Harish Rawat had “cheated them.”
“Despite promising to set up a PWD commission over five months ago, the chief minister has done nothing to keep his promise.
The state government should not underestimate the powers of disabled people,” said Sonia Arora, chairperson of the PWD association adding that they are now contemplating boycotting the upcoming state assembly elections.
Uttarakhand has around 1.85 lakh PWDs.
“The cabinet in June this year had given permission for formation of a PWD commission in Uttarakhand but later we realised that just a small committee has been formed in the name of commission. The committee is led by all the political leaders rather than disabled people. As per the PWD Act, 1995, there are already two committees. There is no requirement of a third Committee. This reflects attitude and seriousness of the state government towards PWDs,” Sandeep Arora, member of Rajya Divyang Kalyaan Samiti said.
The agitated protesters also voiced against the state government’s failure in ensuring 3% vacancies for disabled people in each department and its failure to construct one school each in Garhwal and Kumaon region exclusively for disabled children.
Although Rawat in his speech on Saturday said that a PWD commission has been formed and it will start working from January onwards. A stipulated fixed amount will also be given to the PWDs of Uttarakhand, he said.
Dismissing Rawat’s claims, protesters said that they will now take their revolution to next level by calling all the disabled people from different districts of Uttarakhand.
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