Making society disabled-friendly

FE Team | Published: December 26, 2023 19:35:22

Many people in Bangladesh have different forms of disabilities. Yet, our society is largely oblivious of the needs of the disabled people, even though a number of them could become well-integrated and productive members of society. People with disabilities have varied conditions ranging from cognitive, developmental, mental and physical to sensory impairments. According to the UNICEF, 15 per cent of the world's population - at least one billion people - have some form of disabilities, whether present at birth or acquired later in life. Nearly 240 million of them are children. In Bangladesh, around two per cent children are living with severe form of disabilities, says a study. These children are often subjected to deprivation and discrimination not only from society, but even from their own family. It is also believed that disability is a curse. Such an attitude hinders the disabled children to access to adequate care, health, nutrition, education and participation. The opinions of persons with disabilities on various issues are generally not taken into account. Their rights are often violated, which ultimately excludes them from the mainstream society.
The government should come forward and step-up efforts to enable children with disabilities so that they can access to mainstream services like health, education and live like a normal child. The disability allowance provided by the government is negligible. As a result, begging has become a profession for the disabled children both in rural and urban areas. Therefore, the amount of allowance fixed for them needs to be increased and provision should be made to reach them. Above all, families and society must be tolerant to and supportive of children with disabilities. People with disabilities are sometimes found employed in public and private institutions. But their number is very poor compared to the larger disabled population. In this regard, it is necessary to formulate a professional action strategy.
Abir Sujan,
Student of Department of Land Management and Law,
Jagannath University, Dhaka,
abirsuzon4@gmail.com