'Formulate law to ensure rights of physically challenged people'
Representatives of Upazila Disabled People's Development Committee (UDPDC) yesterday called on the government to formulate a new law in line with the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD).
At a press conference, they said the government enacted the National Disability Welfare Act, 2001 but it does not ensure the rights of the physically challenged people.
According to the act, every district should have a Disability Welfare Committee, with the deputy commissioner as its chair, but the committees are totally ineffective, they added.
The government should make the committees active by inducting the UDPDC members into the committees, they said.
They also said the registration of the people with disability is yet to begin in most upazilas.
UDPDC, a programme run by the Centre for the Rehabilitation of the Paralysed (CRP) in 40 upazilas, organised the press conference at the Dhaka Reporters Unity (DRU) auditorium. Manusher Jonno Foundation funds the programme.
Reading out the keynote paper, Sumi Rani Gour, president of Muktagachha UDPDC, said only four percent of children with disabilities have got the scope to enroll in schools. Social discrimination is the main obstacle to their education at school.
"We want a uniform primary education in every school and introduction of special education for physically challenged children," she said.
She also placed several demands including stipend for the children with disabilities, increased budget allocation for their healthcare and physiotherapy units at upazila and district sadar hospitals for them.
SM Ali Hasnain Fatme, project coordinator of MJF-CRP, Khalilur Rahman Bhuiyan, president of Borura upazila UDPDC, Sakhina Akhter and Sharifa Akhter of CRP were also present.
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