Visually Impaired Protesters Block Traffic in Shimla After 804 Days of Agitation

Protest Intensifies in Shimla

Shimla: Members of a visually impaired association have escalated their protest after 804 days by blocking traffic outside the Himachal Pradesh Secretariat on Monday, January 5, 2025. This action comes as they demand attention to their long-standing grievances, with Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu and his Cabinet members present in the building.

Despite the harsh winter, the protesters staged a chakka jam, causing significant disruption on the busy Cart Road. Frustrated by what they perceive as empty promises from the government, the activists have maintained a dharna outside the Secretariat for the last 70 days, while another faction has been protesting near the Kali Bari temple for over 804 days.

Chanting slogans against the government, the demonstrators expressed their discontent over decades of neglect. Rajesh Thakur, a spokesperson for the group, highlighted that Class IV positions reserved for individuals with disabilities have remained unfilled since 1995. He urged the government to address vacancies in various departments, including education, forest, public works, and jal shakti.

Additionally, the protesters are advocating for a significant increase in the disability pension, requesting a rise from the current amount of Rs 1,700 to Rs 5,000 monthly. Thakur criticized the withdrawal of welfare initiatives like the Sahara Scheme and free bus passes for individuals with disabilities, which he claims have exacerbated their plight.

“As the New Year begins, we still await a response from the government,” Thakur remarked, noting that five differently abled individuals continue to protest daily outside the Secretariat despite the freezing temperatures.

Threatening to escalate their agitation further, the organization warned that if their demands remain unaddressed, they would surround the Chief Minister’s official residence, Oak Over. Although the traffic blockade was eventually lifted, the protesters affirmed that their sit-in would persist until their requests are fulfilled.