Proposed budget neglects people with disabilities

The proposed budget, like previous ones, again discriminates against the physically and mentally challenged people of the society, viewed a forum of NGOs working with people with disabilities yesterday.
Although the forum has long been demanding an inclusive budget for the development of the physically and mentally challenged, the proposed budget for the fiscal year 2013-14 only provides allocation for them under the social welfare ministry, Dr Nafisur Rahman, director of the National Forum of Organisations Working with the Disabled (NFOWD), told a press conference.
He said this is discriminatory as the social welfare ministry does not have adequate expertise in all fields like education, health and labour.
NFOWD chairperson Mohammad Rajab Ali Khan Najib also spoke at the briefing held at Dhaka Reporters' Unity.
They demanded specialised ministry divisions to be given allocations as well so that they can implement projects directed at the development of the physically and mentally challenged people.
Currently the existing projects under other ministries do not adhere to the specific requirements of people with disabilities, they said.
NFOWD claimed that many of the children who do not go to primary school have disabilities.
This is contrary to the 2010 National Education Policy, which aims to ensure cent percent primary school enrolment.