Visually impaired protest over recruitment backlog in Shimla

In a show of frustration, members of the Himachal Pradesh Blind Persons’ Association on Monday blocked the Chotta Shimla-Sanjauli road, protesting the state government’s continued neglect of backlog recruitments reserved for the visually impaired. The road blockade led to significant traffic disruption for several hours.

Raising slogans against the state government, the protesters accused authorities of ignoring their demands despite more than a year of persistent demonstrations and repeated appeals. They demanded the presence of Health Minister Dhani Ram Shandil, warning that the protest would not end until he addressed them personally.

Rajesh Thakur, president of the association, said the community has been protesting for 535 consecutive days, demanding the state fill over 1,100 vacant posts reserved for visually impaired individuals across various government departments.

“We initially protested near the Kalibari Temple for over a year, hoping the government would listen. But after being continuously ignored, we have now shifted to Chotta Shimla near the Secretariat,” Thakur said. “Despite meetings with officers and ministers, and even road blockades, the state has taken no concrete steps. We are left with no option but to escalate our protest.”

Thakur warned the state government of intensified action if their demands are not met by Tuesday, including launching a mass movement and going on an indefinite hunger strike.