Chandigarh residents rally for rights of persons with disabilities

Chandigarh: On the eve of the 76th Republic Day, more than 40 citizens of Chandigarh gathered to reflect on the plight of persons with mental and intellectual disabilities in Sector 17 here on Saturday.
"We are celebrating 75 years of the Indian Republic. While India has several achievements to its credit, our fellow citizens with mental and intellectual disabilities still face a lot of discrimination and hardship in our society," said Kamal Malhi, a counsellor and senior citizen.
"After several years of campaigning by families and professionals, the UT administration finally built a large and very good group home for persons with mental and intellectual disabilities in Sector 31, Chandigarh. But the building is locked for the last six months, while desperate families are waiting for admissions," said Pawan Bali, a senior citizen and parent of an adult daughter with down syndrome.
"The group home building is ready and furnished, but it is locked and unused. God knows why there is no professional staff placed to date. I am 80+ years old. My wife is battling blood cancer. I don't have much time. I want to see my son settled in the group home at the earliest," rued Satish Kumar, father of an adult son with mental illness.
The main issue of an exorbitant security deposit of Rs 20 lakh is still unresolved. Families and concerned citizens have sent hundreds of representations to the UT administration, even the Prime Minister and President of India. But the UT administration is adamant about the Rs 20 lakh security deposit.
"This is like shutting the group home admission door in our faces. 90% of families cannot afford to pay this huge sum and will be left out," said Joginder Kaur, a senior citizen and parent.
"On the one hand, the UT administration claims to have built the group home to fulfil its statutory obligations, but on the other hand, it keeps the security deposit so high that the majority of families cannot afford to pay. I am simply unable to understand this injustice," says Shishpal, a research scholar at Panjab University, Chandigarh.