Call to ensure disabled-friendly working atmosphere

RAJSHAHI, Dec 15 (BSS): Ensuring disabled-friendly working atmosphere has become an urgent need for making the disabled people income-oriented subject to their physical and mental capacity, speakers said at a view-sharing meeting here yesterday. In this regard, they also said the physically disadvantaged people should be given scopes of applying their latent talents according to their choice like the able ones. To this end, they advocated for relaxation of their age and educational qualification for admission to the existing income generation based various technical and vocational training. District Badhan Protibandhi Sangstha (DBPS) and Protibandhi Nari Bikash Sangstha (PNBS) jointly organized the meeting titled "Role of Income Generation training and Loan-providing institutions in elevating the disabled communities" at Safawang Community Center. Prof Zinatun Nessa Talukder, MP, addressed the meeting as the chief guest while Principal of Technical Training Center Mohammad Ali, Assistant Director of Department of Youth Development Abul Kalam Azad, ADD Program Associate Mustaque Ahmed and Silk Industrialist Sadar Ali spoke as the special guests with President of Disabled Rights Protection Committee Advocate Lokeman Ali in the chair. In many cases, the speakers viewed that the age and education bars are being adjudged as major impediments to their path of becoming competent leading to empowerment. They said the disabled people are being deprived of loan from various banks and other financial establishments that due to lack of technical training and other know-how. The chief guest stressed the need for establishing a sound and friendly environment for the challenged people and laid emphasis on inclusion of them in the mainstream of development with the aim of ensuring them a normal life. "The disadvantaged community is an integral part of our society and we must give them an opportunity for enjoying all basic rights like other privileged sections in the country," she added. Besides, she emphasized the need for a collective effort for welfare of the people with disability to ensure a dignified position for them in the society. In the meeting, DBPS President Sohel Rana welcomed the participants while PNBS Member Rakhi Khatun presented a concept paper on the topic. Executive Editor of Daily Sonar Desh Akbarul Hassan Millat moderated the discussion.