Tuesday, September 19 2006 17:42 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: Disabled rights activists today held a demonstration in front of the Planning Commission demanding 'substantial allocation' for the physically handicapped in the 11th five year plan.

The activists, under banner of the 'Disabled Rights Group', blocked the road outside the Planning Commission building and shouted slogans. Later they called off the agitation on assurance that Planning Commission Deputy Chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia would meet the activists tomorrow and discuss the issue.

"We need a good five year plan, with a substantial resource allocation for the empowerment of India's 70 million disabled," Javed Abidi, Convenor of the Disabled Rights Group (DRG), said.

The activists alleged that the Steering Committee and the Working Group, constituted by the Planning Commission to allocate resources for the disabled, had met once each before the committees were reconstituted. However, after the reconstitution of the comittees in the month of July, there has not been any meeting.

"Initially both these committees were not adequately represented by the people of the disabled rights movement. After the committees were reconstituted, there hasn't been any meetings," said G Syamala, a steering committee member.

"The working group was supposed to submit its report by the month of September, but it hasn't met even once since the 28th of June," he added.