The development of people with autism has been hindered with the budget viewing such people from the point of welfare rather than of their rights, Albert Molla, Executive Director, Access Bangladesh Foundation, said in his reactions to Abul Maal Abdul Muhith’s Budget at a press conference held at the Dhaka Reporters Unity yesterday. The media briefing, jointly organised by the Access Bangladesh Foundation and the Bangladesh DRF Grantee Coordinating Committee in assistance with Disability Rights Advocacy Fund, was held at DRU at 10 am yesterday.
“We welcome the proposal to raise tax-free income exemption limit for the autistic tax payers to Tk 3,75,000 from Tk 3,50,000. But we have been deprived of the long-term working opportunities proposed for 1 crore and 18 lakh people,” said Albert Molla.
“Tk 27,949 crore has been proposed for Transport and Communication Sector, which is 9.7 per cent of the total budget. Moreover, to swell the communication standards, 300 double-decker and 100 articulated buses will be running soon under BRTC. But it’s a matter of regret that there are no buses which wheel-chair holders can use,” he added.
The government for the first time announced a budget for children. However, with no clear indications for special provisions for disabled children, they feel left out. “We hope that the government reconsiders the inclusion of establishment of sign language research and training centres for the hearing impaired in the budget,” speakers voicing their reactions in the post-budget programme observed.
“We aspire to be an inseparable part of the country’s development. But, a sense of deprivation haunts us,” said Ashfun Nahar Misti, Executive Director of the Woman With Disabilities Development Foundation (WDDF).
“Highest allocation of the budget is for the education sector. Still, there is too little for autistic learners. Braille method for the blind has not reached them till now. So, education for all is still a utopian idea,” she said.
“Quotas in the jobs sector are not filled as physically challenged people can’t go out. It hurts us that they are deprived of their rights,” said Salma Mahbub, General Secretary of the Bangladesh Society for the Change and Advocacy Nexus.
Speakers at the programme have now demanded inclusion of disabled people in the programmes of every ministry and hoped that autistic people are brought into the stream of the nation's progressive dreams.