Herat blind rally against govt apathy

HERAT CITY (Pajhwok): Scores of blind people staged protest in western Herat province on Sunday, asking the government to give more attention to resolving their problems.

The protest was arranged on the occasion of International White Stick Day, with dozens of blind people rallying for the mitigation of their plight and against government’s apathy.

But Ali Ahmad Usmani, the director of labour, said the people who had suffered disability in the war were given monthly stipends.

The demonstrators marched from the Governor Avenue to the Cultural Square in Herat City, the provincial capital, and asked the government to address their issues.

Non-availability of shelter and higher education facilities for the blind were the major demands of the protestors.

Humaira, one of the protesters, said she wanted to work. “I don’t want to seek help from others,” she said, regretting the lack of opportunities.

nh/mud