Himachal court seeks report on the plight of disabled

Shimla, Jan 9 (IANS) The Himachal Pradesh High Court has sought a report from the state government on the plight of the physically challenged who are staying in old-age homes.

A division bench of Chief Justice Mansoor Ahmad Mir and Justice P.S. Rana served notice Thursday after taking cognizance of a letter written by NGO Umang Foundation's honorary chairman Ajai Srivastava.

He said four out of 17 inmates of the government-run old-age home in Basantpur near here are disabled and not senior citizens. They have neither been provided compensation nor disability pension by the government because they are living in an old-age home.

The NGO has sought disability pension and separate rehabilitation homes for all physically and mentally challenged people in the state as old-age homes do not provide ideal conditions for them.

The court directed the state to file a status report and reply before Feb 25, the next date of hearing.