Amritsar's visually impaired take their shirts off to protest lack of employment

Amritsar, June 7 : Visually impaired people without jobs took their shirts off in a bid to draw attention to their plight during a march in Amritsar.

The visually challenged people resorted to the 'bare chest protest' to open the eyes of the authorities to the fact that they were entitled to reservation in jobs.

The protesters alleged that government was deliberately delaying in meeting their rights.

"They are not providing us reservation for last eight to ten years. Even if there are vacancies, no visually impaired person is recruited," said Jagmeet Singh, a protestor.

The demonstrators threatened to intensify their agitation if their demands were not met.

"We have staged protest by taking off clothes. If need arises we will march to main office, chief minister's residence and secretariat in Chandigarh.

We would keep fighting for our rights. If then also no heed is paid to our demands, then we will block road and trains," said Sunny Pal Singh, another protestor.

The Central and State Governments have made it job reservation mandatory for the visually challenged. But bureaucratic delays sometimes deny them their lawful right.

ANI