Mumbai: High drama ensued outside the Mira-Bhayander Municipal Corporation building (MBMC) on Wednesday as around 40 persons with disabilities protested over their long-pending demands, including restoration of the pension amount as per govt norms,and locked the main gate.
The hour-long protest ended only after senior MBMC officials gave an undertaking that the divyangs’ demands would be met in the next 15 days.
Kajal Naik, one of the agitators, claimed that the MBMC has been ignoring their demands for setting up more divyang stalls and taking action against those who demolish them. “Also, the MBMC has slashed the monthly pension for divyangs to Rs 6,000 from the earlier Rs 10,000, Rs 13,000 and Rs 15,000, depending on the disability percentage, as per the govt norms. “If the number of divyangs has increased, then the corporation should approach the state govt and demand more funds, instead of slashing our money,” Naik demanded. She also pointed out that the Ulhasnagar Municipal Corporation gives monthly pension of Rs 2,200 to divyangs.
The protesters also demanded a Divyang Bhavan and urged the local MLA to intervene in this matter.
Since the agitators did not budge, MBMC deputy municipal commissioner Kalpita Pimple gave in writing that their demands would be met. Only then did they unlock the MBMC building’s gate.
