Adequate allocations for disabled sought
BSS, Rangpur
Speakers stressed on socio-economic and political empowerment of disabled people and increasing allocations for them in the national budget to provide education, health services, training and interest-free loans for income generating activities.
To make the governments initiative of ensuring social security, development and empowerment of disabled people, adequate sector-wise allocations have become crucial for them in the national budget.
Government officials and public representatives made these observations at a discussion styled Increasing allocations for disabled people in the 2019-2020 national budgets held at ASOD Training Centre in the city on Thursday. The National Council of Disabled Women (NCDW) organised the event with assistance of ADD International Bangladesh for officials, activists of different organisations working for welfare of disabled population, public representatives and civil society members.
Additional District Magistrate Shukria Pervin attended the event as the chief guest with Treasurer of NCDW Rebecca Akhter Rita in the chair.
Civil Surgeon Dr Abu Md Zakirul Islam, Assistant Director of the Department of Youth Development Alamgir Hossain, District Assistant Education Officer Shahrina Dilruba, Social Service Officer (Registration) Tahmina Begum, addressed as special guests.
Coordinator of NCDW Hasanuzzaman discussed problems and socioeconomic conditions of disabled population, steps taken by the government and other organisations for their mainstreaming in the society.
The speakers proposed for increasing allocations in the upcoming 2019-2020 national budget in the education, health, social safety net, local government bodies like union parishads and other sectors for development of disabled people.
They said the sustainable development goals (SDGs) would not be achieved without mainstreaming of people with disabilities and ensuring their equal socio-political and human rights.
The civil surgeon termed disabled population as integral part of the society saying that they could do the same like able people if adequate opportunities were provided to them to enjoy basic human rights as per the UN Convention concerned.
Tahmina Begum said the present government has taken steps to provide need-based and suitable education and training to disabled people to turn them into productive human resources for their mainstreaming with development to attain the SDGs.
