Provide jobs for challenged people

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday warned that stern action would be taken if anyone is found guilty of depriving physically and mentally challenged children of admission to mainstream schools.
She also said the government will consider tax exemption for those private corporate institutions and entrepreneurs that will employ persons with disabilities in their respective institutions.
The prime minister made the remarks while addressing a function arranged on the occasion of the 18th International Day of Persons with Disabilities at the Bangabandhu International Conference Centre.
This year's theme of the day is 'Incorporation in the Millennium Development Goals and Empowerment of Disabled Community'.
Sheikh Hasina, in her address, reaffirmed her government's strong commitment to remove all types of social and economic problems of the disabled community in the country.
“If the nation wants to achieve cent percent admission of children to schools, then the admission of all disabled children must be ensured.
Our government wants to remove all difficulties of the persons with disabilities, including that of children, to get them admitted to general educational institutions,” she said.
In a bid to expedite achievements of the goal, she said, the method of teaching the disabled children will have to be a compulsory subject for the primary school teachers.
Besides, Hasina said, the government has already started a process to set up one school capable to teach the autistic and mentally challenged children in every district of the country.
In this regard, the prime minister said, the social welfare affairs ministry has already formulated an integrated special education policy.
The prime minister also stressed the need for appointing a psychiatrist as consultant to every school to help the autistic children.
Hasina said the government from the next budget will increase stipend and scholarship facilities for the disabled children to check the dropout rate of the poor disabled children.
Regarding employment of the persons with disabilities, the prime minister observed that the people with disabilities do have very limited scope of job facilities in Bangladesh.
To improve the situation, she said, the government has already started the process to identify the suitable places of jobs for the persons with disabilities.
“The government will take a massive plan to train up the persons with disabilities on the basis of types of their disability and then be provided with their suitable jobs,” she said.
Sheikh Hasina further stressed the need for increasing the use of information technology to make things easier for the people with disabilities in their jobs.
Mentioning the successes of the disabled sportsmen and women in the special Olympic, she said now it is proved that if a person with disabilities is facilitated well then s/he can do anything like a normal person.
“Disability is not a disease. It's only a different type of human variety.”
Hasina said the government has taken steps to make the Disable Welfare Act to ensure dignity of all the people with disabilities of the society.
She urged parents, teachers, guardians and students to work together to make each member of the society aware about the rights and required services of the persons with disabilities.
Hasina urged the authorities concerned to include various texts in school curricula for teach all children about the behavior and manner with a disabled child.
The prime minister at the function distributed scholarships and crests among 10 talented disabled students for their outstanding results in various examinations.
Hasina, while coming down from the stage, exchanged greetings with the persons with disabilities, including the 10 people provided with modern wheel chairs by a private organisation.
Later, she visited some stalls decorated with various types of innovative products made by the persons with disabilities.
Held with Social Welfare Secretary Kamrun Nesa in the chair, the function was also addressed by Social Welfare Minister Enamul Haq Mustafa Shaheed, Adviser to the Prime Minister Dr Syed Mudasser Ali and National Disable Forum's Chairperson Jahurul Alam.