J&K Holds First-Ever Online Parliament for Persons with Disabilities
09/10/2026
Anantnag:, October 08 (KIP)-Jammu and Kashmir witnessed its first-ever Online Parliament for Persons with Disabilities (PwDs) on Wednesday, providing a democratic platform for persons with disabilities to raise their concerns, aspirations and policy recommendations directly before an elected representative of the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly, Hon’ble MLA Kaisar Jamsheed Lone.
Held under the theme “Call for a Just and Inclusive Society,” the programme was organised under the patronage of MLA Kaisar Jamsheed Lone. Mohammad Auyoob Mir, Research Scholar, Department of Political Science, Aligarh Muslim University, served as Convenor, while Waseem Khaliq, Research Scholar, Department of Law, Aligarh Muslim University, served as Co-Convenor and moderated the proceedings.
Javed Ahmad Tak, Founder and Chairperson of Humanity Welfare Organization Helpline (HWOHL) and Zaiba Aapa Institute of Inclusive Education, Bijbehara, Anantnag, and Chair of Honour, highlighted several longstanding concerns confronting persons with disabilities in Jammu and Kashmir.
Mr. Tak called for effective implementation of reservation in employment and promotion for persons with disabilities in accordance with applicable law, Supreme Court judgments and DoPT orders. He also sought implementation of provisions relating to additional casual leave for employees with disabilities, enhancement of Integrated Social Security Scheme (ISSSS) pensions in view of the high-support needs of many PwDs, and appointment of the Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities from the disability sector.
He stressed the need for deployment of more special educators, regularisation of existing special educators in accordance with applicable judicial directions, enhancement of scholarships for students with disabilities, and effective implementation of directions concerning AAY ration cards for eligible persons with disabilities and families headed by persons with disabilities.
Mr. Tak further urged the government to issue clear guidelines to JKSSB and JKPSC for transparent and uniform implementation of the statutory 4% reservation for persons with disabilities.
He appealed to MLA Kaisar Jamsheed Lone to take up these issues at the appropriate forums and to advocate for greater political representation of persons with disabilities, enabling the community to have a stronger institutional voice in the Legislative Assembly and participate meaningfully in democratic decision-making.
The programme witnessed detailed deliberations on education, employment, reservation, accessibility, social security, welfare schemes and other support requirements. Participants shared their lived experiences and highlighted challenges faced particularly by women with disabilities, persons with locomotor disabilities and PwDs living in rural and remote areas.
Co-Convenor and Moderator Waseem Khaliq emphasised the need to move beyond formal equality towards substantive justice and meaningful inclusion. He observed that despite constitutional commitments to social, economic and political justice, persons with disabilities continue to face significant barriers to equal participation. He stressed that PwDs must be recognised as equal citizens, rights-holders and active participants in public and democratic life, rather than merely as beneficiaries of welfare measures.
Towards the conclusion, Convenor Mohammad Auyoob Mir placed a set of policy recommendations before the Patron, emerging from the deliberations on education, employment, reservation, accessibility, social security and welfare schemes.
After hearing the concerns and recommendations, MLA Kaisar Jamsheed Lone assured the participants that the issues raised would receive due attention and that efforts would be made towards their timely redressal.
The Online Parliament concluded with a collective call for a just, inclusive and accessible Jammu and Kashmir, where persons with disabilities are recognised as equal citizens and full participants in democratic and public life.