Visually impaired put forth slew of demands

HYDERABAD: Representatives from several organisations working among the visually handicapped said the government was not involving them while making decisions regarding the visually impaired. They demanded that the blind community at large be consulted before making any decisions for their welfare.

They were speaking at a meeting of the Hyderabad unit of the All India Confederation of the Blind (AICB) with the representatives of all organisations working for the blind in the city on Saturday.

The representatives of seven blind organisations put forth seven demands to the state government on the occasion.

The representatives requested the state government to appoint a visually impaired as commissioner for disabled welfare in the government. The government should ensure that the blind persons are given 1 per cent reservation in all government schemes, they said. 

The seven organizations that met were Development and Welfare Association of the Blind, National Federation of the Blind, Minority Employees Organisation for Blind, Visually Challenged Employees Association, Blind Employees Association, Telangana Visually Challenged Employees and Teachers Association and Development Association of the Blind. They also wanted the government to de-reserve the sixth roster for state recruitments, which was currently meant for women.

They also demanded that the severely visually impaired should be given first preference in employment rather than the present practice of treating persons with disabilities from 40 per cent to 100 per cent equally and giving preference to merit. They wanted conveyance allowance and readers allowance as recommended by the Pay Revision Commission.