Visually Impaired Protest Against Kathmandu Metropolitan City and Government

Kathmandu. As the forceful removal and arbitrary detention of visually impaired people living on the streets have increased, they have taken to the streets in protest against the Kathmandu Metropolitan City and the government. 

Gathering at Maitighar Mandala in Kathmandu on Monday, they began a sit-in protest, stating that the current government and the metropolis are not allowing them to earn a living even on the streets.

Sudeep Oli, coordinator of the group of visually impaired self-employed entrepreneurs focused on street life, said that they were forced to start the protest because the city police were suppressing and detaining them, not even allowing them to earn a livelihood by staying on the streets, in monasteries, and at intersections. He expressed anger, stating that the government is driving them away from the streets without providing any alternative. The visually impaired have also demanded that the government arrange a monthly unemployment allowance of Rs 20,000 for them to survive.

During the protest, visually impaired Oli expressed dissatisfaction with the working style of Prime Minister Balendra Shah (Balen), saying, 'Today, the Balen government did not let us live. Because they did not guarantee food, shelter, and clothing. We used to sell incense sticks, some kept weighing machines on the streets, at intersections, and in monasteries. Some were earning by raising donations by showcasing their art and singing songs. But the Balen government did not provide us with that. City police come, suppress us, take us to the holding center, detain us all day, and release us in the evening.' 

He added, 'City police have also physically assaulted women. We have had to do this in protest of that. Now, the state must either allow us to earn a living, provide us with an unemployment allowance of twenty thousand per month, or provide us with work based on our qualifications and abilities. Some of our friends are educated and literate. Their licenses are under their pillows. They should be managed accordingly. Those who are not educated should be provided with an allowance and similar work, and this protest is for our food and shelter.'

They have warned that they will continue the protest at Maitighar daily from 9 am to 12 pm until an alternative arrangement is made for them. The group's demand is that visually impaired individuals should be provided with employment opportunities along with allowances based on their qualifications and abilities.