Nagpur: Disillusioned by the several welfare schemes for handicapped persons and no support from any quarters, three sisters have knocked the doors of Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis for justice. The three sisters, hailing from Wardha district, have resorted sit-in agitation in the premises of Chief Minister’s Secretariat in Nagpur. The 34-year old Archana Bhagat, along with younger sister Abhay (22) and 36-year old sister Kranti, who is mentally challenged, reached Nagpur from Sindhi Meghe in Wardha District on Tuesday and straightway started their sit-in agitation at CM’s Secretariat itself to press for their just demands.
The three sisters stated that they have no life-sustaining resources as their mother died years ago and father lives separately. The elder sister is wiklang (mentally disabled) and since there are no resources they are forced to go hungry for days together. The three sisters grudgingly said that they have heard of several Government schemes for welfare of handicapped persons but no benefits have reached to their doors.
According to Archana Bhagat, she underwent some training through Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar Research and Training Institute. She was carrying some work also but was declared ineligible abruptly for no valid reasons. Usually, after training from the Institute, an honorarium of Rs 11,000 is paid but since she was disqualified abruptly, she is being deprived of that amount as well. Incidentally, this is not the first time the three sisters have resorted to agitational path for justice. In April this year, the three Bhagat sisters had launched an agitation but ended it after the District Collector assured to resolve their problems and also promised a piece of land for generating life-sustaining resources. However, the promise turned out to be hollow one. The three sisters apprised the Chief Minister through emails but received no measured reply of any sorts. Disappointed and disillusioned by the cold shouldered response from all the quarters, the three Bhagat sisters have now resorted to ‘now-or-never’ path of agitation at the doors of Chief Minister for justice. The sit-in agitation will go on until the justice is done, asserted the three Bhagat sisters.
