The number of people with disability is about 1.70 million in the country, which is 1.4 per cent of the total population (154.7 million). It was revealed in the primary findings of a national-level census of social welfare ministry.
The ministry sources said the census was conducted in 5,083 units (union/ municipality/ city corporation) of 550 upazilas of 64 districts. Its field-level data collection was completed in November 2013.
A total of Tk 405.40 million is allotted for the project, to be implemented from FY 2011-12 to FY 2015-16. The actual expenditure is Tk 271.10 million so far.
In a summary report of the census it was noted that some disabled people have been left out due to various reasons, for which the field work of the census is still going on.
A ministry official told the FE Wednesday that many disabled beggars were not covered in the census, as they went out to distant areas for begging while it was conducted. Also there were some disabled people, who were abroad during the census.
The official said as many as two per cent of the total disabled people might have been left out. The authority concerned has put emphasis on identification of disabled people in the areas under Dhaka City Corporation.
Interestingly some disabled people feel it as a prestige issue or privilege to be counted as disabled, he added.
Although the census has been conducted in 564 upazilas, the process has been completed in 173 upazilas, where the number of disabled people stands at 0.975 million. Of these total upazilas, the government conducted pilot census in 14 upazilas.
The ministry has taken initiatives to identify the left out disabled people with the help of voluntary organisations. Besides, doctors/consultants and enumerators are directed to visit specialized schools to bring the disabled people under the purview of the census.
The government is now preparing a web-based dynamic software as per specifications of the Election Commission, Bangladesh Computer Council, Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics, and A2I Project of Prime Minister's Office with financial and technical assistance from UNICEF.
The software was supposed to be prepared by June 2014. But the ministry sources said it will need some more time to complete it.
Department of Social Services (DSS) is the implementing agency of the census programme. Its data entry is expected to be finished by this December.
1.4pc people disabled in country
Kamrun Nahar | Published: August 07, 2014 00:00:00 | Updated: November 30, 2026 06:01:00
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