Mayor of Khulna City Corporation (KCC) Talukder Abdul Khaleque yesterday underscored the importance of ensuring participation and representation of the disabled people in overall uplift activities to attain sustainable development goals (SDGs). The KCC Mayor stressed on socio-political and economic empowerment of the disabled people and providing them with need-based education, health services, training and interest-free loans for income generating activities.

KCC Mayor said this at a post rally discussion held in observance of the 28th International Day of Persons with Disabilities (IDPD) and 21st National Disabled Day-2019 at officer’s club auditorium yesterday morning. Khulna District Administration and Department of Social Service (DSS), jointly observed the day. Khaleque said SDGs would not be achieved without mainstreaming the people with disabilities and ensuring their equal socio-political, economic and human rights.

“Present government has taken steps to ensure participation of the disabled people in development activities and provide suitable education and training to turn them into productive human resources to attain the SDGs,” he added. Khulna Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Helal Hossain presided over the meeting where leaders of Disabled People’s Organisations, local public representatives, officials, journalists and civil society members attended.

 The meeting was told that that a total of 2951 disabled men received TK 3.92 crore as SME loan in 2018-2019 fiscal year and 30,185 disabled people got identity cards from the DSS during the period. Of them, 1,339 received over TK 30 lakh as education stipends while 28,162 got TK 2.11 crore as disabled allowances. Earlier, a colourful procession led by KCC mayor was brought out from Shaheed Hadis Park that paraded some main streets in the city and ended at Officer’s Club.