BBC News

Wednesday, May 23, 2012

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"We have to regard these people as the active agent of the social change. Project-based activities will not yield the expected results," she observed.
Shaheen Anam, executive director of Manusher Jonno Foundation, observed that 40 percent of the country's annual development programme remains unutilised. "Is there any problem if the government diverts unutilised funds to the challenged population?" she asked.
Nawazish Ali Khan, adviser of ATN Bangla, said: "We have to engage the private sector so that they create jobs for them."
Farida Yesmin, executive director of Disabled Rehabilitation and Research Association, Bangladesh, said the issue of the physically challenged in Bangladesh is seen as relief-based approach, not as empowerment approach.
"If it continues, the physically challenged will never have their dignity in the society."
In his welcome speech, Mahfuz Anam, editor and publisher of The Daily Star, said his newspaper is committed to highlighting both problems and achievements of the physically challenged people and how their dignity in the society can be ensured.
Anila Hossain, a wheelchair-bound student of Standard V who came to the programme with her father, described how she is treated at school. "Parents say if I go to the school other students will face problem. Don't I have a right to education?" she asked.
Speaking as the chief guest, Social Welfare Minister Enamul Hoque Mostofa Shaheed said mobile banking could be used to take the allowance to the people and help them avoid harassment.
He said the government is spending heavily for the education sector through the budgetary allocation. "Still we do not see ramp in the buildings."
Ruling Awami League lawmaker Zunaid Ahmed Palak said the challenged people face harassment in getting allowance from the government. "They even have to give bribe to get the allowances."
He said the challenged people should be given identification cards so that they can receive allowances directly from the government.
Rashed Khan Menon, president of parliamentary standing committee on education, agreed to the suggestion that education of the physically challenged population has to be brought under the authority of the education ministry.
Rasheda K Chowdhury, former adviser to a caretaker government, said increasing budgetary allocation for the disabled is not the only solution. "There has to be proper monitoring so that the budget is spent for the intended purpose and benefits reach the real beneficiaries."
Ranjit Kumar Biswas, secretary of the social welfare ministry, Brig Gen (retd) Shahedul Anam Khan, editor, defence and strategic affairs of The Daily Star, and Dr MA Muhit, pro-vice-chancellor of University of South Asia, also spoke

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