After 704 days, visually impaired protesters threaten nude agitation over unfulfilled demands

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Yog Raj Sharma

The North News

Shimla, October 27

A group of visually impaired protesters in Shimla has been staging a sit-in for 704 days, making it one of the longest-running protests in the state’s history. The demonstrators, gathered at Kali Bari, are demanding that the government fill backlog vacancies reserved for the visually impaired across various departments. The protesters have repeatedly staged road blockades to press their demands. They demonstrated today outside the state secretariat and warned that if the government fails to act, they will stage a nude protest, holding the administration responsible for any fallout.

Rajesh Thakur, secretary of the organisation representing the visually impaired, said several rounds of talks have been held with the government but no concrete action has followed. “We have been fighting for our rights for years. The government gives assurances but does nothing,” he said.

The group claims that since 1995, no appointments have been made against reserved posts for the visually impaired, despite orders from Supreme Court of India. They say their concerns have been ignored in the state budget and that vacancies remain unfilled.