Lockdown-affected 'Divyangjan': MP NGO writes to CJI for help

Bhopal, May 9 () An NGO from Indore in MadhyaPradesh has sent a letter petition to the Chief Justice ofIndia seeking direction to government authorities to ensurepeople with disabilities, or Divyangjan, reach their homessafely amid the lockdown for the novel coronavirus outbreak.

The letter was sent to the CJI on Friday, AnandService Society's directors Gyanendra and Monica Purohit told.

"More than 150 Divyang persons are stuck in differentparts of the country and waiting endlessly to go back to theirhomes. We have sent a letter petition to the Chief Justice ofIndia requesting him to issue necessary directions to theconcern authorities," Purohit said.

"After our successful mission to rescue 23 speech andhearing impaired persons, a large number of people withdisabilities have approached us to make arrangements for theirsafe return to their homes.

"We need government support for it and, therefore,requested the Chief Justice of India to give necessarydirections to National Disaster Management Authority and theMinistry of Social Justice and Empowerment to help thesestranded persons," the petition said.

The petition contains details of these persons as wellas sign language videos they have put out requesting for help.

The petition said these persons with disabilities tendto use touch to navigate and social distancing norms currentlyin place to contain the virus outbreak was causing hindrancesin their lives.

It contended that most do not have the wherewithals toprocure e-passes for movement during lockdown, and, moreover,arranging a vehicle to travel is also beyond their financialmeans. MASBNM BNM