NGO’s want more budget for the disabled

A group of non-government organisations have called upon the government to reconsider the budgetary allocation for people with disabilities.

The allocation is too inadequate, said a total of nine organisations working for persons with disabilities in Bangladesh in a press briefing today.

Access Bangladesh Foundation organised the press conference at Jatiya Press Club this morning in support of Manusher Jonno Foundation and UKAid.

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The proposed budget and its impact on vulnerable groups

They said, the budget allocated for the disabled is 2.19 per cent of the budget for social safety net, which is only 0.31 per cent of the total budget.

The allocation prioritises monthly allowances of disabled people, which curbs their development in productivity," they said on their budget reflection.

"Allowances make up for 85.3 per cent of the total allocation for the disabled," Albert Mollah, executive director of Access Bangladesh Foundation, said.

In a set of recommendations suggested, they called for development planning of the persons with disabilities, stipends and allocation for creating jobs for them.

The other organisations who jointly participated in the press conference are DCF, WDDF, NGDO, NCDW, SDSL, DWS, Vips and Turning Point.