State to take care of them in absence of their parents
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday said the government would make "permanent arrangements" like founding a trust fund for the children with disabilities so that they do not remain neglected in absence of their parents.
"It's a responsibility of the state to take care of the children with disabilities in absence of their parents ... We are going to take such an initiative so that they can grow up in a beautiful environment," she told a programme on the occasion of the 9th World Autism Awareness Day.
The social welfare, the health and the education ministries jointly organised the function at the city's Bangabandhu International Conference Centre.
A mother struggles and suffers mostly throughout her life for her disabled kids, said the PM. "It is mainly the mother who looks after children ... but what would happen and where would these children go when their parents won't be there?"
Keeping this in mind, the government is making permanent arrangements for the children with disabilities, she noted.
"If any government in Bangladesh takes an initiative, it is stopped or destroyed with the change of governments," Hasina said, referring to the closure of community clinics by the previous BNP-Jamaat government.
The premier called upon the private sector entrepreneurs to come forward to supplement government efforts for the welfare of the people with special needs.
She asked the authorities concerned to develop software, hardware and websites to suit the needs of the people with disabilities.
Hasina also put emphasis on providing special care to the children with autism and related disorders. The children with autism could be turned into a “valuable asset” if they were given special care, she noted.
People with disabilities have brought success for the country in various fields, mentioned the PM. "The specially-abled players have brightened the country's image by winning gold medals in Paralympics and Special Olympics."
Elaborating various efforts made by her government for the welfare of the autistic children, she said Bangladesh earned independence under the charismatic leadership of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. The country's constitution has ensured equal rights, dignity and social justice for all its citizens, the PM added.
Keeping this in mind, the government is working to allow the latent talents of the differently-abled and autistic children flourish, she told her audience.
She lauded her daughter, eminent child psychologist Saima Wazed Hossain, for creating global awareness about autism and other physical and mental disabilities.
She said various services are being provided free of cost to autistic children and people with special needs from the Autism Resource Centre and a school has been set up on the campus of the National Disability Development Foundation in the city's Mirpur.
The PM further noted that the education ministry is setting up an academy for autism and neurodevelopment disorders aimed at bringing the autistic children in the mainstream of society.
She hoped that such an initiative would create opportunities of expanding inclusive educational activities for the disabled, including autistic children.
Health Minister Mohammad Nasim and Chairman of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Social Welfare Ministry Mozammel Hossain were present at the programme.
Later, the PM witnessed a colourful cultural function performed by some physically challenged children.
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