Special people pin hopes on next president

KABUL activists on Monday said the next president should ensure that people with disabilities availed more privileges because their rights had been ignored over the past 12 years.

In June, 2014, Pajhwok Afghan News published an investigative report containing interviews with disabled individuals in 20 provinces.

In the report, most of the respondents complained against non-payment of their 5,000 afghanis monthly stipend by the government, calling it clear discrimination against them.  

According to the Ministry of Labour, Social Affairs, Martyrs and Disabled (MoLSAMD), more than 108,000 people who lost their limbs in the conflict receive 5,000afs a monthly under the law on rights and privileges of the disabled through a commission.  

At a news conference in Kabul on Monday, Omid and Hamzisty Cultural Centre head Syed Mohammad Yazdan Parast said the incumbent government had failed to address problems being faced by people with disabilities.

He said the special people lacked access to government-run educational institutes and the small number of privately-run schools for the blind and deaf could not accommodate the so many disabled persons.

Speaking on the occasion, Syed Muhibi, the head of a network which advocates for the rights of the disabled, said: “We hope the new president will prioritise problems facing people with disabilities.”

He said the special people should benefit from rights enshrined in the universal declaration on human rights for the disabled.

MoLSAMD spokesman Ali Iftikhary confirmed the problems being faced by disabled persons, saying his ministry had always been in contact with the departments concerned to resolve their problems, however most of the problems remained unresolved.

He also described the non-payment of stipends to the disabled as discrimination against them, saying his ministry would strive to bring about amendments to the law on rights of the disabled.

Iftikhary said 100 disabled persons had graduted from professional courses arranged by his ministry and efforts were in place to encourage government departments to provide job opportunities to people with disabilities.

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