Bhubaneswar: A section of members of the Orissa Association for the Blind (OAB) staged a protest outside its office here on Sunday alleging they were denied entry to the annual governing body meeting and that the building is being leased out for social functions. The protesting members said they produced a notice from an advocate for allowing them to take part in the meeting but the top office-bearers called in the police to keep them out.
“More than 1,500 of us are registered with the association.Our rights are being suppressed by some influential persons. They enjoy a range of benefits while we are being deprived of what is rightfully ours,” said Sitamani Panda, one of the protesters.
“We have implored them to cease holding of social functions since the building is intended for our use. Instead of heeding our pleas, they are depriving us of our rightful needs,” Bansidhar Pradhan, another protester, said.
“The meeting was meant for the board members,” association’s secretary Sarat Das said.

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