Govt to launch pilot one-stop centres for persons with disabilities in 10 districts
The government is planning to launch pilot one-stop service centres in 10 districts or upazilas to provide comprehensive services for persons with disabilities under one roof, State Minister for Social Welfare Farzana Sharmin said on Thursday.
Speaking to reporters after a meeting of the Inter-Ministerial Coordination and Implementation Committee on the Protection of the Rights and Services of Persons with Disabilities at the Secretariat, she said the centres would provide healthcare, education, rehabilitation, mental health support, skills development, employment assistance, legal aid and other essential services from a single location.
The pilot initiative will also offer vocational training, support for marketing products made by persons with disabilities and income-generating opportunities for their guardians, she said.
Farzana said the government is also planning to establish specialised training centres to develop skilled professionals for disability services. Guardians staying at the service centres for extended periods while accompanying their children will also be provided with opportunities to engage in income-generating activities.
State Minister for Health and Family Welfare MA Muhit, who chaired the meeting, said the government had formed two high-level national committees to strengthen the protection of the rights of persons with disabilities.
He said the Health Ministry had already launched healthcare services for around 1,000 children with disabilities under the 'Shishuswarga' programme in Korail slum.
The programme will be expanded to 20 to 25 upazilas during the current fiscal year, with a focus on grassroots identification of children with disabilities, community-based early detection, treatment and referral services, he said.
Separate records will be maintained for every child to facilitate long-term rehabilitation, employment support and access to other government services in coordination with the Ministry of Social Welfare and other relevant agencies, Muhit added.
He also said the Ministry of Youth and Sports plans to include dedicated facilities for athletes with disabilities in all new sports infrastructure projects. Reception programmes and financial incentives for successful Special Olympics and Paralympic athletes will also continue.
Muhit said the government is moving to make disability-friendly designs mandatory in all public buildings and infrastructure projects, with the Planning Commission set to consider accessibility features as a key criterion in approving future government projects.
Under the proposed measures, all new government buildings will be required to include ramps, appropriate lifts and at least one disability-friendly toilet.
The government is also working to ensure similar accessibility in educational institutions and has recommended that future electric buses be designed to accommodate wheelchair users, he added.