Speakers at a post budget press briefing on Monday opined that the allocation of budget for the persons with
disabilities is insufficient in addressing their need.
Access Bangladesh Foundation arranged a post-budget reaction meeting on “National Budget 2022-23: Status of persons with disabilities ” on Monday in collaboration with Disability Rights Fund, DCF,NCDW, Sitakund Federation, Turning Point Foundation, WDDF, B-Scan, SDSL, NGDO, VIPS, NOAC, DWS, Porosh Protibandhi Unnayan Sangstha, Rangdhonu Zila Protibandhi Adhikar Sangstha, Spondon Protibandhi Unnayan Sangstha, Narsingdi DPOD, Joyer Pathe Protibandhi Unnayan Sangstha, BPUS, NADPO, Protik Mohila O Sishu Sangstha & JPNUS at Tofazzal Hossain Manik Miah Hall of National Press Club, Dhaka.
The meeting chaired by Ashrafun Nahar Misti, Executive Director of WDDF and started with the welcome speech of Nasrin Jahan, the Executive Director of DCF. Albert Mollah, Executive Director of Access Bangladesh Foundation presented an analysis on the proposed national budget 2022-23 from disability perspective.
He thanked government for increasing the number of beneficiaries for disability allowance by 3 lac 57 thousands, increasing disability allowance from 750 taka to 850 taka monthly, allocating 120 crore taka for the construction of sports complex for persons with disabilities and 40 crore taka for cochlear implant program.
He also thanked for abolishing all existing tariffs on the importation of specialized wheel chairs for persons with disabilities, exempting VAT on Braille printing material, reducing import duty on the battery for hearing aid from 25% to 5%.
All the speakers in the meeting expressed their solidarity with these demands.
A total of 80 representatives from Non-Government Organizations, International Organizations, journalists, persons with disabilities, civil society and Organizations of Persons with Disabilities (OPDs) attended the post budget reaction meeting. Mohua Paul, Chairperson of Access Bangladesh Foundation concludes the meeting with thanks.