Increase budgetary funds for people with disabilities

Demands NFOWD

13 June 2010, 18:00 PM

Staff Correspondent

The National Forum of Organisations Working with the Disabled (NFOWD) yesterday demanded an increase in the budgetary allocation for the people with disabilities to improve their living standards and ensure their rights. It also called for initiating comprehensive development projects under the coordination of different ministries for the development of physically and mentally challenged people. NFOWD leaders placed the demands at a press conference on 'Expectations and achievement of people with disabilities in the national budget' at the National Press Club yesterday. NFOWD president Khandaker Jahurul Alam, secretary general Jawherul Islam Mamun, lawmakers Advocate Fazle Rabbi Miah and Advocate Mir Shawkat Ali Badsha were present at the press conference. “Before the formulation of the national budget, we placed some proposals to the finance minister for sustainable development of the people with disabilities. But we found no reflection of our proposals in the national budget," Mamun said. “So, we categorically demand steps to implement our proposal,” he added. According to the Allocation of Business System of ministries, only the social welfare ministry is solely responsible for initiating different projects for the people with disabilities. Mamun said. “So, we demand amendment to the Allocation of Business System immediately and implementation of development projects under coordination of all the ministries to transform the people with disabilities into human resources, ” he said. Their other demands include allocation of Tk 25 crore for countrywide survey on the people with disabilities, their identification and registration, allocation of Tk 10 crore for rehabilitation of the acid victim and physically challenged women, free textbooks for them and allocation of Tk 18 crore for their primary education projects, allocation of Tk 5 crore for legal aid and allocation of Tk 35 crore for construction of sports complex.