Political pledge a must to ensure rights of people with disabilities

Shahidul Islam, a person with disability, speaks at a roundtable at the National Press Club in the city yesterday. On his left is Mainul Ahsan Saber. Rasheda K Choudhury, extreme right, was present as the chief guest.Photo: STAR

Primary and Mass Education Adviser Rasheda K Choudhury yesterday said political commitment is a must to ensure the rights of the differently able people and actions should be taken in this regard through specific plans.
The adviser also expressed her optimism in changing the rules of business during the tenure of the caretaker government.
She was speaking as the chief guest at a roundtable on 'Right to information: State of persons with disability and our duties' jointly organised by Centre for Disability in Development (CDD) and the Weekly 2000 at the National Press Club in the city.
The speakers at the programme said as the government activities are run by the rules of business and it affirms the social welfare ministry to supervise all the issues of the differently able people; education, health, sports and other ministries do not address this vulnerable group at all.
They demanded the government incorporate the representatives from differently able people's groups in implementing the Right to Information (RTI) Ordinance.
The RTI Ordinance was approved by the advisory committee of the government on September 20 to ensure people's right to information.
The speakers also urged the government to ensure dissemination of the law, regulations, declarations and programmes regarding rights of the disabled people to the concerned ministries and directorates and also to ensure their implementation.
The programme supported by Manusher Jonno Foundation also highlighted the difficulties facing by the physically and mentally challenged 1.40-lakh people of the country for lack of information inflow.
CDD Executive Director AHM Noman Khan in his keynote paper said though the policy regarding disability was prepared in 1995 and the Disability Welfare Act was passed in 2001, very few of the policymaking level are aware of it and its implementation.
“Even a district committee regarding disability issue was formed and ministrywise plan of action was taken. But the executive body has little information about it that leads the physically and mentally challenged people to be deprived of getting their rights,” he added.
For lack of information inflow and the implementation of the law, still a huge number of differently able children do not get chance in the mainstream public education institutions and cannot enjoy the quota system in public services and rehabilitation programme of the government.
The speakers said the issue of services for the people with disabilities mentioned in the ministrywise citizens' charters are not satisfactory and often absent.
They also underlined the importance of amending Disability Welfare Act 2001 and the policy. At the same time, political parties should also incorporate the issue at their electoral manifesto.
Karmojibi Nari President Shirin Akhter said, “Local government can play an important role in disseminating the information regarding disability and the rights of the disabled. Even area-based list of such people can be prepared by the government.”
Industry and Commerce Secretary of Awami League Farook Khan said ensuring total rights of the disabled people depends on political commitment much.
“A parliamentary caucus should be formed to facilitate the activities regarding disability,” he added.
Manusher Jonno Foundation Executive Director Shaheen Anam said political leaders should also play a pivotal role in passing the ordinance in the parliament.
“Manusher Jonno Foundation has already formed an RTI forum to work with the issue and is now busy with preparing draft rules of the ordinance that is approved by the government,” she added.
IT expert Mostafa Jabbar stressed the need for spending much money for research works on how to originate new software that would facilitate the learning capacity of the disabled people.
Editor of Weekly 2000 Mainul Ahsan Saber moderated the programme which was addressed by Jatiya Protibondhi Foundation Executive Director Monsur Ahmed Chowdhury, Jatiya Protibondhi Forum President Khondokar Zahurul Alam and TIB Executive Director Iftekharuzzaman.