More families to get disability allowance

Ridma Dissanayake

The number of families with persons with disabilities who received a special monthly allowance of Rs 3,000 under the Mahinda Chinthanaya Future Vision is to be increased to 16,500 from next year.

At present, 11,216 families receive this allowance and 34 families from each Grama Sewa Division have been entitled for this allowance, Social Services Department Director Hemachandra Hewage said. He was addressing a special press briefing organized by the Sri Lanka Federation of the Visually Handicapped at the Information Department, yesterday.

"The total cost of the increase is estimated at Rs 405 million and 50 families from each Grama Seva Division will become beneficiaries of this allowance under this programme," he added. "The government has decided to build homes for persons with disabilities and the Social Services Department is to build 1,000 homes for them by the end of this year. It is our duty to create a free economic, social and mental environment to help differently able people lead happy and comfortable lives," he said.

Around 600 homes have already been built. The government granted a Rs. 50,000 for a home, but, this amount has been increased to Rs. 250,000.

"Around seven percent of Sri Lanka's population are disabled and it is the government's aim to provide them with suitable vocational training and to get them involved in the country's development process", Hewage said.

The Social Services Department has made arrangements to grant technical assistance for the construction activities of these homes as well.

"A special donation is granted to persons with disabilities to commence self-employment projects, while vocational training too will be provided at vocational training centres in Gampaha, Kandy and Hambanthota," the director explained.