Handicapped persons take out march

THIRUVANANTHAPUR: The confederation of the associations for handicapped in the State took out a Secretariat march and staged a dharna on Wednesday. Malappuram MLA Ubaidulla inaugurated the dharna. The confederation office-bearers urged the Government to consider their long-pending demands, including the formation of a department for the welfare of the handicapped. They also demanded that the Government should  appoint handicapped and committed persons at the helm of organisations like the State Handicapped Persons Welfare Corporation.  The other demands raised by the agitators include the implementation of a Handicapped Protection Law, writing off the loans availed  by the handicapped and sanctioning housing loans through the Welfare Corporation.  They also said that the Government should  make permanent the handicapped persons in temporary service at various government departments. The agitators also called for reassigning the powers for recruitment to the three per cent government quota with the District Collectors concerned.