Speakers at a participatory discussion in Rajshahi said the people with special needs should be given some additional privileges for their proper rehabilitation and family integration.
They view holistic and collective efforts of both the public and private organisations have become an urgent need for ensuring their fundamental rights which are keys to their social dignity.
Terming the challenged people as an integral part of the society, the speakers put emphasis on mainstreaming them through creating a friendly atmosphere for people with disabilities. The physically challenged people should never be judged as a burden to society.
District Social Service office and District Administration jointly organised the discussion at the conference hall of Deputy Commissioner (DC) in observance of the 30th International and the 23rd National Day of Persons with Disabilities on Friday. This year's theme of the day is "Leadership and participation of persons with disabilities toward an inclusive, accessible and sustainable post-Covid-19 World".
DC Abdul Jalil and Divisional Director of Department of Social Services (DSS) AKM Sarwar Jahan addressed the meeting as chief and special guests respectively while DSS Deputy Director Hasina Momtaj was in the chair.
Additional Superintendent of Police Ifte Khayer Alam, District Children Affairs Officer Monjur Kader, Member of National Social Welfare Council Mozammel Haque and DSS Assistant Director Dr Abdullah Al Firoj also spoke on bthe occasion. Abdul Jalil said that the physically and mentally challenged people can easily be mainstreamed and empowered using the Information and Communications Technology (ICT).
He urged wealthy people and other philanthropists to stand beside the people with special abilities and also urged the challenged people to make them fit for the jobs for providing minimum services to the service-providers.
He, however, thanked Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and her daughter Saima Wazed Hossain Putul for taking various steps in establishing rights of the children with special needs to ensure their education, treatment and other requisite facilities.
Other speakers said the people with special needs aren't the burden of society but wealth. They have to be built as worthy citizens. All quarters should come forward towards forging a social movement for welfare of those thereby overall developments of the society will be achieved.
