Visually impaired protesters block road in Shimla over backlog recruitment delay

Members of the Blind Persons Association, Himachal Pradesh, staged a protest on Tuesday by blocking the Chotta Shimla-Sanjauli road, demanding the fulfillment of their long-pending demand for backlog recruitment in state government departments. The protest caused significant inconvenience to commuters and lasted for several hours before police intervened.

The protesters, led by Association Secretary Rajesh Thakur, sat on the road and raised slogans against the state government. They demanded that either the Chief Minister or the Chief Secretary address them directly and initiate talks. Eventually, the police removed the protesters from the road and transported them to Kalibari in a police bus.

Speaking during the protest, Thakur expressed deep frustration over the government’s inaction, stating that the visually impaired community has been protesting for over 550 days regarding the unfulfilled backlog recruitment reserved for them.

“Each time we announce a roadblock or intensify our agitation, the government calls us for talks. Despite repeated assurances of positive outcomes, no concrete action has been taken,” Thakur said.

He further alleged that police personnel mistreated some protesters and used force to disperse them. “We will continue our protest until our legitimate demands are addressed,” he asserted.

The incident highlights the growing discontent among the differently-abled community regarding employment opportunities and the need for the government to take timely and concrete action on their grievances.