'Ensure participation of persons with disability in planning'

Speakers at a roundtable yesterday said involvement of disabled persons' organisations (DPOs) should be ensured in planning and projects for the persons with disabilities (PWDs) to facilitate the overall development of this community.
They said as DPOs are run with the participation of persons with disabilities, these organisations know the core crises of the disabled persons and they can fix proper steps for their own development.
Action on Disability and Development (ADD) organised the discussion titled 'International cooperation and donors' support to disabled peoples' organisations in Bangladesh' at Bangladesh Institute of International and Strategic Studies (BIISS) in the city.
Representatives from different DPOs across the country participated in the programme and described their crises and sufferings there.
Attending the function as the chief guest, Health Adviser to Prime Minister Dr Sayed Modasser Ali said ensuring dignity to persons with disabilities is a must for their development.
“If the persons with disabilities do not get their due rights, it will be a betrayal of the electoral pledge of Awami League,” he said, adding that the government is very sincere for the development of people with disabilities.
Dr Modasser stressed the need for involving the persons with disabilities in the decision-making level.
Rabeya Sultana, head of Rights and Social Justice of ActionAid Bangladesh, said the rate of education among children with disabilities is still not satisfactory.
Terming the government a friendly one for the people with disabilities, she said it is the time of taking some affirmative steps for the persons with disabilities in the country.
Pradip Ranjan Chakravarty of Jatiya Protibandhi Unnayan Foundation said the foundation is going to introduce two hostels for the migrated male and female persons with disabilities.
Representatives of DPOs demanded that the existing act for the persons with disabilities and their participation be ensured in all committees and decision-making bodies.
Director of Harvard Project on Disability Michael Stein presented a keynote paper on the occasion moderated by ADD Country Director Mosharraf Hossain.