Indigent disability allowance activities

The present government is committed to providing equal rights and dignity to persons with disabilities. The Bangladesh Disability Welfare Act 2001 was enacted in 2001. This law is a unique document in protecting the rights of persons with disabilities. Articles 15, 16, 20 and 29 of the Constitution of Bangladesh provide equal opportunities and rights to persons with disabilities along with other citizens. As part of the responsibilities of Article 15 (d) of the Constitution, the Indigent Disability Allowance Program was introduced from the financial year 2005-06. Initially, persons with disabilities were brought under the allowance of Rs. 200 per person per month. The monthly allowance rate per capita is 250 in FY 2008-09, 300 Taka in FY 2009-10, 300 Taka in FY 2010-11. 37,026 persons with disabilities are being given a monthly allowance of Rs. 750. The intensive supervision of the highest level of government and the relentless work of the officers and employees of all levels of the Department of Social Services has achieved almost 100% success in disbursement of indigent disability allowance.  

The steps taken during the present government to ensure greater transparency and accountability in the disability disability allowance program and to make it universally acceptable are to revise the existing implementation policy and make it up-to-date . G2P (Government to Person) allowances are being distributed from FY 2020-21.

Aims and objectives of the program

1. Fulfilling constitutional and legal commitments made to persons with disabilities;

2. Socio-economic development of indigent persons with disabilities;

3. Bringing people with disabilities under the social security program;

4. Provide monthly allowances for persons with disabilities selected by the appropriate authorities following specific policies;

5. Inclusion of persons with disabilities in the National Action Plan.

Definition:

'Persons with Disabilities' Any person with any type of disability as described in Section 3 of the Rights and Protection of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2013;

Candidate Selection Criteria:

1. The applicant must be disabled as defined by the Rights and Protection of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2013;

2. Socio-economic status of the applicant should be taken into consideration during selection;

3. Priority should be given to the elderly / elderly disabled in the payment of allowances;

4. Landless and homeless persons with disabilities will get priority in receiving allowances;

5. Women with disabilities should be given priority;

. People with multidimensional disabilities should be given priority;

. In the nomination of new beneficiaries, priority should be given to the more poor and relatively backward or remote areas.

. Preference should be given to poor mentally / autistic disabled children (age relaxed) and visually impaired persons for treatment.

Eligibility and Terms of Allowance Recipient:

1. Must be a permanent resident of the area concerned;

2. According to the Rights and Protection of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2013, registration and identity card must be obtained from the social service office. The person with disability who is a permanent resident of the district will receive registration and identity card from that district;

3. Persons with disabilities whose per capita annual income does not exceed Rs. 36,000 (thirty six thousand);

4. The applicant must be miserably disabled;

5. All types of disability above 6 (six) years should be considered for payment of allowance;

. Must be selected by the selection committee.

Ineligibility for Allowance:

1. If a government employee or a pensioner as a government employee;

2. If in any other way regular government grants;

3. Regularly receiving financial grants from a private organization / social welfare organization.

Union wise number of disabled disabled beneficiaries of Haimchar Upazila