Exempt physically challenged people from tax
Speakers tell roundtable
Staff Correspondent
Speakers at a roundtable yesterday called on the government to exempt the people with disabilities from tax up to a certain limit and reduce bank loan interest rates for them to ensure their empowerment. The Action on Disability and Development (ADD) organised the roundtable titled 'Towards disability inclusive national budget' at Cirdap auditorium in the city in association with the European Union and Manusher Jonno Foundation. Speaking at the programme, Debapriya Bhattacharya, executive director of the Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD), stressed the need to reduce import duty on equipment used by physically challenged persons. He also called for more investment in the education sector and training on developing livelihood skills. "Once the people with disability become empowered, there will be no need for funds for them." Presenting the keynote paper, Dr Atiur Rahman showed how poverty causes disability. According to his paper, physically challenged persons account for 4.2 percent of the people in urban areas while the figure is six or seven percent in rural and char areas. Dr Atiur Rahman suggested awarding scholarship to students with disabilities up to graduation level and allocating 10 percent of the education budget for their education. Former finance adviser to the caretaker government Dr Akbar Ali Khan laid emphasis on monitoring whether the funds for the physically challenged people are being utilised properly. He also said that in the absence of a parliament, the caretaker government should hold consultation meetings with the people on the budget. Dr M Asaduzzaman, research director of BIDS, observed that the country needs a comprehensive data on the number of people with disabilities and issues causing disability. Former lawmaker Asaduzzaman Noor said the nation needs a pro-poor government who will bring the underprivileged and vulnerable group to the mainstream of development. Md Abu Yusuf, assistant professor of development studies, Dhaka University, Khandaker Shakhawat Ali, research fellow, PPRC, Dr Badiul Alam Majumdar, country director, Hunger project, and Dr Quazi Shahabuddin, director general of BIDS, also spoke at the roundtable chaired by ADD Bangladesh country representative Mosharraf Hossain.
| 
