BSS, Rangpur :
The local government institutions (LGIs) should ensure inclusion and participation of disabled persons in policy-making activities for mainstreaming them in the society to attain sustainable national development.
Government officials, public representatives, leaders of different organisations working for welfare of disabled population and civil society members said this at a roundtable discussion held at BRAC Learning Centre in the city on Monday afternoon.
The National Council of Disabled Women (NCDW) organised the meeting with the assistance of the ADD International Bangladesh with President of NCDW Nasima Akhter in the chair.
Government officials, chairmen and vice-chairmen of upazila parishads, chairmen and members of union parishads, Social Service Officers and representatives of different Disabled Peoples’ Organisations participated in the event.
Deputy Commissioner Md. Asib Ahsan attended the discussion as the chief guest.
Deputy Police Commissioner of Rangpur Metropolitan Police Abu Bakar Siddique, Assistant Engineer of LGED Abul Kashem, Executive Director of NCDW Jahangir Hossain, District Disability Affairs Officer Taposh Kumar Barma and Director of Rangpur Chamber Partho Bose addressed as special guests.
Female Vice-chairmen Kajoli Begum of Sadar upazila, Razia Begum of Gangachara upazila and Shamima Akhter Jasmine of Mithapukur upazila also spoke..
Finance Secretary of NCDW Rebecca Akhter Rikta delivered a welcome speech while its General Secretary of NCDW Shajeda Akhter presented the keynote essay in the meeting moderated by Field Coordinator of NCDW Hasanuzzaman.
The speakers termed disable population as an integral part of the society and said that the nation can not achieve sustainable development leaving disabled people behind.
They said disabled population can do the same like the able people to contribute their own to the nation-building activities and called upon the LGIs to play a crucial role for ensuring their inclusive development at grassroots.
They specially suggested authorities of the upazila and union parishads for increasing allocations in their annual development budgets for disabled population to ensure their inclusion, participation and representation in development activities.
The chief guest said the government has enacted the Disabled People’s Rights Protection Act, 2013 to ensure the rights of persons with disabilities for their development and mainstreaming in the society.
“Alongside the government initiatives, the LGIs and non-governmental development organisations should provide education, training and assistance to disabled population to make them productive human resources for their sustainable development,” he said.
