Hemani Kandhari
Jammu, July 16: The hundreds of wheelchairs that had been lying abandoned in the open at Government Polytechnic College, Bikram Chowk, Jammu, have now been completely removed from the campus, following a report by JK News Today that highlighted the issue last month.
On June 21, JK News Today reported that hundreds of wheelchairs, procured during the election period to facilitate voting for Persons with Disabilities (PwDs) and senior citizens, had been left unattended in the open for months after the elections. Exposed to intense sunlight, dust and changing weather conditions, the wheelchairs faced the risk of rusting and deterioration, raising concerns over the safety of public assets purchased with taxpayers’ money.
The wheelchairs, stacked just inside the main entrance of the college, had also become a major obstruction in maintaining the cleanliness of the area. Their prolonged presence made it difficult for sanitation staff to clean the premises properly, while the unused stacks created spaces that could potentially become a shelter for insects and reptiles.
A visit to the site now shows a completely different picture. The area has been cleared of all wheelchairs and appears neat and clean, allowing proper maintenance of the campus. The removal of the equipment before the onset of the monsoon has also prevented possible damage that prolonged exposure to rain and moisture could have caused.
The timely action comes after JK News Today drew attention to the issue through its public-interest report, questioning why government property purchased for election purposes had been left exposed instead of being stored safely for future use.
The shifting of the wheelchairs to a secure location is a welcome development. Besides protecting valuable public assets from rust and weather-related damage, it has restored cleanliness to the campus and eliminated a potential breeding and hiding space for insects and reptiles. The development highlights the importance of timely intervention and demonstrates the impact of responsible journalism in prompting action on issues concerning public property and accountability.
