'Raise budgetary allocation for people with disability’

They said the demands of the challenged people were not properly reflected in the budget except an increase in the number of recipients.

The press conference titled 'Rights of the persons with disability in the National Budget 2006-07' was organised by Action on Disability and Development at Dhaka Reporters' Unity auditorium.

Reading out a written statement, Arannyo Rayhan, executive director of D-Net, said in the mid-term planning of social welfare ministry for FY2007- 09, a total of Tk 25.76 billion has been allocated for challenged people in six major sectors including education and rehabilitation.

But only five percent of the total number of people with severe disabilities will receive the allowance by the FY 2009, he said.

Referring to a pre-budget workshop on people with disability on May 31, Rayhan said only one of their six demands is met in a limited way in the proposed budget.

The workshop demanded Tk 500 for 2.25 lakh challenged people whereas the allocation has been made as Tk 200 for 1.64 lakh people per month, he added.

Speaking on the occasion Mosharraf Hossain, country director of ADD, urged the government to sanction stipend worth Tk 200 per month up to university level for at least one lakh challenged students in rural areas to prevent their drop out from education.

He also called for allocating Tk 50 to 60 crore in the budget for easy movement of people with disability everywhere.

Umme Kulsum Ranjana, president of Jatiya Protibondhi Nari Parishad, suggested participation of people with disability in the pre-budget ministerial meeting.

"Only people with disability can place their demands in a better way," Kulsum said, adding, " There should be reserved seat for challenged women in parliament."

Sukomol Roy, programme co-ordinator of Social Assistance and Rehabilitation for the Physically Vulnerable (SARPV), Akhtar Hossain, president of Jatiya Trinomul Protibondhi Sangstha, and representatives of different organisations working with the people with disability from across the country also spoke on the occasion.

They alleged that often the social service officials and unit members demand bribes from challenged persons for government allowance.

They also criticised the lengthy implementation process of government's directions in this regard.