Housing project for families with disabled adults

The Social Services Ministry has commenced a housing project to provide 1,000 housing units for families with disabled adults, following instructions by President Mahinda Rajapaksa, to step up action to implement the project under the National Policy on Disability.

Ministry Secretary Emelda Sukumar told the Daily News on Thursday, that they launched the project which will provide houses to around 1,000 families with adult members who have limitations in carrying out various activities in life because of their being physically or mentally impaired .

Sukumar said, each family will get Rs 250,000 to construct their houses under the programme. The beneficiaries will be selected from every district.

"This will be the first phase of the project.

"Social Services Minister Felix Perera has instructed the ministry to provide the funds," she said.

Persons with various disabilities, such as hearing, speech, visual, mobility or psychiatric disabilities in each Divisional Secretariat will receive these funds," she said. Sukumar said action has been taken to introduce several other programmes to avoid disabled persons from being subject to social exclusion on account of their disability related problems.

"The ministry has taken action to engage them in self employment activities.

The ministry will provide them opportunities to upgrade their skills and knowledge," she said.

"This is to facilitate them in securing their jobs, thus integrating them into society and mainstream of economy," she added.