-----Original Message-----
From: Javed Abidi [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: 07 May 2002 18:11
To: Mark Priestley, Dr.
Subject: HUNGER STRIKE CALLED OFF!
Dear friends/colleagues:
Thank you so much for all your affection and concern. Sincerely. Honestly.
Most genuinely.
The amount of messages -- letters, faxes, E-mails, even telegrams and
phonecalls that I have received was truly a most amazing, yet most humbling
experience. I most sincerely thank EACH ONE of you who expressed solidarity
and support since this whole thing erupted about 10 days ago.
Yesterday, as most of you are aware, we took out a Solidarity Rally, after
which over 500 disabled activists court arrested peacefully. In the meantime
we received a message from the Prime Minister that he has nominated his
Minister of State (in the P.M.O.), Shri Vijay Goel to meet with us and to
discuss all our demands.
We met Shri Vijay Goel first at 12:30 p.m. and then again at 7:30 p.m. The
second meeting lasted nearly two hours. I will send you all the details
separately but you will be pleased to know that the matter has been amicably
resolved and the government has acceded to look into all our 12 demands.
Late night yesterday, the Ministry of Social Justice issued a formal Press
Release. Minister, Shri Vijay Goel had already recorded his statement to the
electronic media (Aaj Ki Baat, NDTV, etc.) in our presence only.
As a result, I have now withdrawn my Indefinite Hunger Strike. Shri Vijay
Goel has promised to come back to us (DRG) by this weekend on all the
various issues that we have raised.
May I thank you once again for all your support and encouragement. I
sincerely hope that our sector continues to work together on issues of
common concern in a united manner.
Yours sincerely,
Javed Abidi
Convenor, DRG
7.5.02
PRESS RELEASE
DRG DELEGATION HAD A DETAILED MEETING WITH PRIME MINISTER’S ENVOY, SHRI
VIJAY GOEL LAST EVENING
PMO AGREES ‘IN PRINCIPLE’ WITH ALL THE 12 DRG DEMANDS
DRG CONVENOR, SHRI JAVED ABIDI WITHDRAWS HIS HUNGER STRIKE
As you are aware, the Disabled Rights Group (DRG) delegation met with Shri
Vijay Goel, Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office at 7:30 p.m.
last evening. The meeting lasted over 90 minutes. Officials of the Ministry
of Social Justice were also present.
The DRG delegation comprised of Shri Javed Abidi, Convenor of DRG; Gen. Ian
Cardozo of Spastics Society of Northern India; Shri Ritvik Patra of
Deepalaya; Rev. Shamsher Singh Bahadur of Leprosy Mission; Shri Jawahar
Kaul of All India Confederation of the Blind; Smt. Asha Mehra of
Swavalamban; Smt. Rajender Kureel of Deaf Friendship Club; Shri Rajashekhar
of Jagrit Viklang Manch amd Ms. Rama Chari of DRG. The meeting was
conducted in a very conducive environment. It was evident that the PMO/Shri
Vijay Goel were very keen that the issues be resolved amicably. In general,
the attitude of the Government was extremely positive.
During the meeting, each of DRG’s 12 demands were taken up one by one and
discussed threadbare. Shri Vijay Goel agreed that ‘in principle’ all of the
12 demands were genuine and needed to be looked into seriously by the
Government in a time-bound manner.
Shri Vijay Goel agreed that the office of Disability Chief Commissioner
should be shifted from Noida back to Central Delhi at the very earliest. He
also promised DRG that he will personally take up the issue of increase in
the limit of the income tax exemption and the issue of exemption of aids and
appliances for the use of disabled people from customs duty, etc.
with the Hon’ble Finance Minister, Shri Yashwant Sinha. He assured the DRG
delegation that some positive outcome may be expected in the near future on
the two issues.
Regarding incentives for the private sector to boost employment
opportunities for disabled people, he asked the Social Justice Ministry to
apprise the PMO of whatever progress has been made thus far so that he can
speak to the concerned Minister/s and further catalyse the matter.
All the other demands will also be examined positively, the Minister
assured, and concrete action taken in a time-bound manner.
Shri Vijay Goel then expressed the hope that in keeping with the positive
attitude of the Government towards DRG’s campaign, its Convenor Shri Javed
Abidi would withdraw his proposed Indefinite Hunger Strike. After consulting
with the DRG Core Group, Shri Javed Abidi decided to withdraw the Hunger
Strike.
Shri Javed Abidi expressed the hope that the Government will act upon all
the 12 issues in a sincere, concrete and time-bound manner.
7.5.2002
Rama Chari
Member, DRG
FOR ANY OTHER INFORMATION OR CLARIFICATION, PLEASE CONTACT ME AT THE
FOLLOWING TEL. NOS. : 6265647/6265648 OR 98-115-39991 (M).
________________End of message______________________
Archives and tools for the Disability-Research Discussion List
are now located at:
www.jiscmail.ac.uk/lists/disability-research.html
You can JOIN or LEAVE the list from this web page.
|
