HM Correspondent
Kalimpong, May 19: 
An organization for disabled went took the aerial route on Tuesday against Bimalindu Das, the Black Development Officer of Kalimpong Block I, criticizing him of not distributing the benefits allotted for disabled people in the block. The benefits are sponsored by the State and the Central governments.
The Parvatiya Apang Kalyan Sangathan (PAKS) plastered posters along Thana Dara here this morning accusing the BDO of his high- handedness. “If the BDO cannot distribute relief and rations meant for us, we will collect rations from ourselves and send it to the BDO,” read the frustrating poster. “The District Magistrate has already sent a letter to the BDO to immediately distribute the relief,” added the poster. Chotay Lal Prasad, the president of PAKS further alleged that the BDO has always underestimated the disabled in the block. “Does the BDO have the right to defraud with the rations and relief meant for disabled or is he underestimating us because we are disabled,” questioned Prasad.
“Das should answer this to us and the people of Kal-impong,” he added. The centre and the state has been providing the benefits to the handicaps since the last 10 years which ironically stopped after Das took over as BDO of Kalimpong block I.
 “We will soon stage a dharna against Das infront of the office. If he cannot run the block in a systematic way he should leave the hills,” threatened Prasad.
The BDO told journalists that the District Magistrate has directed him to send the rations to locate the name of disable and distribute relief from concerned Gram Panchayats from where it would be distributed while the other benefits would be distributed from the Block office itself.
Prasad however said it was impossible for the disabled people to travel through the hilly terrain to collect the ration. “These disabled people have to come from all the way from Suruk-Samthar to collect benefits. How is it possible for them to come when they are disabled. Das expects these disabled people to come to collect 12 to 24 kg of ration and travel back home with loads,” said Prasad