Disabled to get Rs. 3,000 allowance

COLOMBO: National Council for Persons with Disabilities Chairman and Social Service and Social Welfare Minister Douglas Devananda, directed the Council to pay a monthly allowance of Rs. 3000 to low income families where the house-holder happens to be a disabled from this month as pledged in the Mahinda Chinthana.

The National Council for Persons with Disabilities jointly with the Divisional Secretaries conducted an islandwide survey and called for applications from such families. Over nine thousand applications have received.

The Minister instructed the Council to pay 1400 low income families under the first stage. The treasury allocated Rs. 47 million for this purpose.

The plans for this year were subjected to a detailed discussion at this meeting. As the Cabinet approval has been granted to provide accessibility facilities to public places, it was decided to provide this facility to 380 post offices islandwide and display posters in public offices, depicting the activities carried out by these State institutions in sign language for the benefit of the hearing impaired.

Seminars to raising awareness among the State and Provincial Council employees have already been commenced as regards the accessibility facilities for the disabled in public places. It was decided to conduct these seminars in all the other parts of the country including the North-East. Funds to provide sanitary facilities to the disabled at the Fort Railway Station have already been allocated. The following decisions were also taken at this meeting.

To fix monitors at the railway stations for the benefit of the hearing impaired. To provide with pedestrian crossing facility to Ratmalana Deaf and Blind school similar to the special pedestrian crossing facility provided at Dehiwala Town Council Library. Offer 3% State employment opportunities to the disabled.

Consequent to calling for applicants to establish a job bank by the Department of Social Services, it was disclosed that 200 applications have been received from the disabled for employment in the State sector.

A committee comprising members from the National Council for Persons with Disabilities was appointed to look into the accessibility facilities in the up-coming State owned Institutions. Initiating an advertising campaign to rid off the unfair attitude of the society towards the disabled was also subjected to discussion.

Last year under Mahinda Chinthanaya Rs. 10 million was allocated for development of Rehabilitation Homes for the disabled. This year, it was decided to increase the number to 22 in consultation with the Provincial Directors of Social Services. Steps were taken to provide the developed Rehabilitation Homes with 15 Television sets.

Former Dehiwala, Mount Lavinia UC Member Kesaralal Gunasekara, Ministry Secretary V. Jegarasasingam, and Minister's advisor Maheshwari Velautham and Minister's Private Secretary S. Thavarajah also participated.