Help physically-challenged people: PM

Prime minister Sheikh Hasina on Thursday urged the people of all classes, including the affluent section of society, to protect the rights of people with disabilities, help flourish and utilise their talents alongside providing them with jobs.
‘After assuming office, we’ve taken many steps for their welfare, but I’ll urge the affluent section, including businesspeople, private sector and corporate sector, to help flourish and utilise their talents and provide them with jobs,’ she said.
Sheikh Hasina was addressing a function marking the 24th International Day of People with Disabilities and the National Disabled Day-2015 held at the Bangabandhu International Conference Center.
Mentioning that the people with disabilities are the part of this society and country, the prime minister called upon teachers, students and guardians not to neglect the physically-challenged and autistic people and children rather to be sympathetic, supportive and sensible to them.
‘They are part of the mainstream of our society…so we’ll have to behave with them in such way. It’s our duty to protect the rights of the physically-challenged people and ensure their dignified place in society,’ she added.
Reassuring her government’s firm commitment to always stand beside the physically-challenged people, Hasina said the monthly allowance of some 6 lakh physically-challenged people would be raised further from the existing Tk 500.
Hasina said the number of physically-challenged people across the globe is about 100 crore while the United Nations has been observing the International Day of People with Disabilities since 1992.
Responding to the UN call, she said Bangladesh has also been observing the Day.
Lauding the role of international autism expert and her daughter Saima Hossain, the prime minister said the present government under the guidance of Saima undertook various steps for the rehabilitation of the countrywide physically and mentally-challenged people.
Highlighting various steps taken for the welfare of the physically and mentally-challenged people, Hasina said the government has reserved 1 per cent quota for them in all grade I jobs, including BCS ones, while 10 per cent quota in the grade III and IV posts for the physically-challenged people and orphans, which has widened the opportunity for getting government jobs.
Besides, out of about 14,82,716 physically-challenged people, some 6 lakhs are getting Tk 500 each per month as allowance from the government while 60,000 physically-challenged students are getting stipends.
The government has already set up 103 service and help centers for the physically-challenged people across the country where they are getting therapy, other related materials, hearing test and counseling.
The prime minister said initiative is also there to set up a national disability complex with all amenities.
Finance minister AMA Muhith spoke on the occasion as the special guest chaired by parliamentary standing committee chairman on ministry of social welfare Mohammad Mozammel Hossain.
Speaking on the occasion, Muhith said separate budget for the physically-challenged people will not be possible in the next national budget, but could be within the tenure of the present government.
Earlier, the prime minister distributed laminated ID cards among some of the physically-challenged people. After delivering her speech, she also witnessed a cultural programme there organised by the physically-challenged people and children.

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