Demolition Of Blind Student Hostel – Inhumanity At Its Zenith

Express photo by Praveen Khanna
Express photo by Praveen Khanna

These days, lynching of dalits, muslins and other marginalised have become common. But, regrettably, even disabled and blind persons are not being spared. According to a report in dailypioneer.com on December23, 2017, the Delhi high court has sought reply from DDA on demolition of a hostel which left atleast 20 visually impaired persons left without a roof in winter. The students, mostly from Delhi University, were staying in Janakpuri’s Virender Nagar locality. The court has also asked for a status report of their whereabouts and their safety and well being. It has been a week since the authority demolished without any prior notice to the occupants. The students have alleged that heavy things were taken off and they were left inside ( December22, 2017 induanexpress.com).

The National Platform for the Rights of Disabled (NPRD) has condemned the utter insensitivity of the authorities. The local affiliate of NPRD, vikalang Adhikar Manch, who visited them, expressed solidarity with the blind ( posted on December24, 2017, kracktivist.org). The authorities are asking them to shift to either tents or night shelters which are unhygienic and blind cannot live in those shelters.

This is an inhuman act and the court should order an enquiry. Visually impaired are being discriminated against in every walk of life by the society.
The students have demanded prosecution of DDA authorities for making them shelterless ( December26, 2017 , www.news18.com). The Delhi government and centre must take up the issue immediately and compensate the students. Most of them have lost valuables like Braille writing material, books and personal belongings.

Such incidents remind us of Bhagalpur case where persons were blinded or the Delhi lathi- charge by the police.

Sheshu Babu is a writer from anywhere and everywhere

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