Visually Impaired Protest for Livelihood Rights in Maitighar

Kathmandu. Visually impaired people have been protesting in Maitighar Mandala for nine days. They have been forced to protest as the government is not allowing them to do business, which they were doing as self-employment on the sidewalks.

Their main demand is the proper management of visually impaired and low-vision entrepreneurs or to be allowed to continue the business they have been doing. They complain that although they are earning a living through various professions and businesses, the government itself has become an obstacle.

Visually impaired Vishnu Upadhyay, who participated in the protest, said that they had to come to the street to ensure their basic rights. He stated that it is the government's responsibility to guarantee food, shelter, clothing, health, education, and employment for visually impaired citizens, but the government is instead troubling those who are self-employed.

He demanded that the government should manage visually impaired people in a dignified manner, provide employment opportunities based on qualifications, skills, and experience, and until that is possible, allow them to continue their street vending and street music professions without hindrance. He also stated that the social security allowance should be significantly increased.

Upadhyay said that the current allowance of 2,012 rupees per month is not enough for daily living. He pointed out that due to the rising cost of living, social security of at least 20 to 30 thousand rupees is necessary.

'The government should manage us with dignity. Employment should be provided based on qualifications, skills, and experience. Until employment is managed, we should be allowed to do what we are doing. There are friends here who are involved in marketing and street music,' he said, 'The current 2,012 rupees is not enough to buy gas or rice. Should we eat raw rice or just warm ourselves by the gas fire? The government should be serious about these issues. While everyone else's salaries and allowances are increasing, why is our allowance not increasing? The government should understand our sensitivity and pain.'

Purna Bahadur Rokaya, coordinator of the protest committee, accused the government of ignoring their protest despite being fully aware of it. He mentioned that the protest has been peaceful so far and warned that if the government does not engage in dialogue and take initiative in time, a larger number of visually impaired people will join the protest. He clarified that they would participate in the talks only if the government calls them for dialogue and creates a basis for ensuring their demands and issues.

'It is not acceptable to say that the government is unaware of our protest. It is aware, but it is acting as if it hasn't heard or seen,' Rokaya said. 'We became visually impaired because we couldn't see the world, but today the Government of Nepal has become visually impaired despite being able to see the world. So far, we have been protesting peacefully. But if the situation arises tomorrow where the crowd of visually impaired people cannot be controlled, does the Government of Nepal realize that?'

Dil Bahadur Buda, another visually impaired person participating in the protest, sells incense sticks for a living. He said that selling on the street is not his choice but a compulsion. He stated that many visually impaired people have higher education, degrees, and various skills and abilities, but are forced to sell goods on the street due to a lack of employment.

Buda complained that the city police and security personnel are particularly strict with visually impaired and disabled individuals. Expressing dissatisfaction with the government's lack of effective initiatives to solve the problems of the visually impaired, he urged those in government to tie blindfolds over their eyes for some time to understand the pain of the visually impaired.

'Many visually impaired friends are educated. Some have teaching licenses, some have degrees. I myself am a person who has completed a bachelor's degree, but my documents are currently gathering dust in a box. To support my family and make a living, I have to work hard. That's why we sell our crafts, skills, or some goods on the street,' he said. 'But the city police and police scold us for placing goods haphazardly. They cannot chase those who can see and run, but they mostly chase those who cannot move and are disabled.'

Visually impaired entrepreneurs participating in the protest have stated that they will continue their protest until their demands are met. Daily, 40 to 50 visually impaired people participate in the protest. The protest mainly involves visually impaired people residing within the Kathmandu Valley.