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Editorial

Caring for the disabled

Equal opportunity approach needed
4 December 2003
• EDITORIAL
The National Disabled Welfare Foundation drawing on a recent World Bank survey has put the figure of mentally and physically retarded people in the country at 10 per cent of the population. The just-observed World Disabled Day has highlighted the incidence of disablement in the country from three angles: disability by malnutrition and lack of medicare; by violence, road accidents and natural calamities; and by mental causes. Looking at the factors inducing impairment, both physical and mental, we find that the maladies are, to a large extent, preventable. So, there has to be a containment strategy in place touching on a whole range of development concerns. The focus is now entirely on those who are disabled and for obvious reasons; but a significant part of the priority needs to be accorded to the preventative aspect of handling crisis.

The first imperative for reducing the incidence of disablement and rehabilitating those that are crippled is to have a reliable database on the entirety of the subject. Effective strategies can only be drawn out on the basis of accurate data analyses. Disablement is something far too obvious to go unreported or remain unknown. Little extra effort can help firm up the database.

It is all very good that we are thinking of easing the plight of the retarded. But most of what has been proposed is rudimentary in nature that in other countries had become a tangible reality a long time ago. For instance, they will have separate ticket counters in railway stations, bus terminals, airports and cross-river ferry terminals. A quota of seats will be reserved for them in public transports and that ramps are to be provided in government offices to facilitate movement of wheel chairs for them. The government has also decided to earmark one per cent quota for participation of the disabled in Bangladesh Civil Service (BCS) examination. So much more needs to be done for them.

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An 'equal opportunity' approach will be the right route to take for the advancement of the disabled as useful citizens of the country.

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