Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Sunday urged the private entrepreneurs to recruit educated and talented people having disabilities to their business houses for the welfare of all.
Addressing a function marking the 10th World Autism Awareness Day at Osmani Memorial Auditorium in the city, she also urged all to extend their all-out support for the welfare of autistic, physically and mentally-challenged children and people.
The Ministry of Social Welfare arranged the programme. The day is being observed in the country as elsewhere in the world with the theme – ‘Toward Autonomy and Self-Determination’.
Hasina said, there is no alternative to employment of the persons with different types of disabilities, including autism, to ensure their welfare and increase dignity in family and society.
The Prime Minister said, many employers consider the needs of the persons with autism as inability. “But, sincerity of such people in work is much more and their presence at workplace is satisfactory in comparison to others,” she said.
“As long as I’m alive, I’ll continue to extend cooperation to them (autistic, physically and mentally-challenged people and children) whatever necessary,” she said urging all to create scopes for flourishing the dormant talents of autistic and physically-challenged children and people.
Hasina asked the guardians who have children with autism to have courage and patience saying that her government has been implementing various programmes for their welfare, including the establishment of a trust. Hasina said Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman had first introduced a quota system in government jobs for such section of people and her government has also kept the system.
The Prime Minister also distributed awards among successful persons with autism and successful organisations and institutions working for the development of people with autism.
Later, she witnessed a colorful cultural programme performed by autistic children.
The Prime Minister also called upon the authorities of general educational institutions to grow the mentality of enrolling the children with disabilities in their institutions. They could not be kept away from education for their disability. “We always give highest priority to education. But general educational institutions don’t want to enroll the children with disabilities. This mentality will have to be changed,” she said.
Hasina said, the children with disabilities will lead a better life if they could get close to general children and get treatment and counselling facilities.
She said, whatever greeting cards she sends to people on the occasion of different festivals like Eid and Nabobarsha are prepared by the children with disabilities.
The Prime Minister urged the people of all classes and professions to extend their helping hand to flourish the talents of the disabled children. “They must be given scope for flourishing their latent talents … let’s make beautiful their lives,” she said.
Sheikh Hasina said work is underway to identify suitable workplaces for the physically-challenged people to appoint them on priority basis. She also requested all public and private organisations to set up information centres, including development of disabled persons-friendly software, audio-video education tools, infrastructure and technology. Hasina reiterated her call to all concerned for ensuring arrangement for ramps and special toilets for the movement of the physically challenged people. “All will have to take the issue seriously keeping the welfare of the people with disabilities in mind,” she said.
Noting that national development is not possible excluding the children with disabilities, Sheikh Hasina said they would be turned into a valuable asset if they are given special care by keeping in mind the needs of these tender-hearted children. “The importance and awareness about autism have increased nationally and internationally thanks to tireless efforts of my daughter Saima Wazed,” she said.
The Prime Minister said the Neuro Developmental Disability Protection Act 2013″ was passed in parliament to protect the interests of the persons with disability.
“Under the law, we’ve established the Neuro Developmental Disability Protection Trust to consider the future of the physically-challenged children and Tk 41.50 crore have already been allocated for implementing its programmes,” she said, adding the allocation would be raised further later.
The Prime Minister said that work is going on for formulating a mental health policy so that the children with disabilities get assistance. Heath Minister Mohammad Nasim and Parliamentary Standing Committee Chairman on Social Welfare Ministry Mozammel Hossain spoke on the occasion as special guests.
State Minister for Social Welfare Nuruzzaman Ahmed presided over the function while Social Welfare Secretary Md Zillar Rahman delivered the address of welcome.
