LARKANA, Aug 10: Disability did not deter them from pursuing education but the government did when the issue of their employment came. “We are not asking the government any favours but the two per cent job quota according to a law framed in 1981, and financial assistance for uneducated disabled youth through Ushar Zakat Committees of Baitulmal under the Benazir Bhutto Income Support Programme.”

A group of disabled youth expressing their resentment said that they would continue the protest till the acceptance of their demands. It may be noted here that some 17 such persons have pitched a camp outside the Town Hall since last 37 days.

“I did my Masters in Public Administration from the University of Sindh in 2012 with hopes of becoming a useful member to my family but couldn’t because of my failure in getting a government job,” Nisar Ahmed Junejo of Dokri said.

The group is protesting at the Jinnah Bagh under the flag of Special Persons Welfare Organisation, Dokri (Larkana) which has some 400 members in the district.

Imtiaz Mangi, pointing to his crippled legs said that he did B.Com and Diploma in Computers in 2011 despite being disabled and since then was waiting to support his family financially.

“We are here since last 17 days without a fan or any comfort but the authorities it appears are least bothered over our situation and the civil society too isn’t caring much about us,” he said.

Leaders of different organisations visit only for just photo sessions and not out of sympathy, he said. Deputy Commissioner of Larkana Asad Abro met us on Wednesday when we protested at the gate of DC House. He assured assistance and jobs, both.

Mashooque Ali Soomro lost both his legs in a road accident in 2001and is not able even to stand up. He said that a man becomes a burden on his family when he is unable to earn.

He is a matriculate and expert in iron shuttering Though the government has unlimited resources to help people with disabilities but its priorities lay at a place where we our position is zero, he stated.

Akhtiar Hussain Jamrani, Hafiz-i-Quran and father of three earns his livelihood as a tailor.

He said that both his legs were paralysed due to polio when he was only a year old. He collects unstitched clothes from a shop which he completes at home.