Social Welfare Minister Nuruzzaman Ahmed said, as a result of successful implementation of the programmes for the people with disabilities, they are now becoming an asset for the country and not a burden.
The Minister said this while participating in a discussion meeting organized on the occasion of ‘White Cane Safety Day’ at the National Disability Development Foundation at Mirpur in the capital on Thursday.
Mahfuza Akhter, Secretary of the Ministry of Social Welfare presided over the function while Rashed Khan Menon, Chairman of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on the Ministry of Social Welfare, Sheikh Rafiqul Islam, Director General of the Department of Social Services and Md Anishuzzaman, Managing Director of National Disability Development Foundation were present at the programme.
The Minister said that various programmes for the disabled are being implemented through the Ministry of Social Welfare to turn them into assets.
The Minister also called upon all to form a disability friendly society and said, “We all have to be sincere towards people with disabilities and we have to work for them.”
He directed the officials and employees of all levels under the Ministry of Social Welfare to implement the programmes taken for people with disabilities by the Ministry of Social Welfare as per the expectations of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
Rashed Khan Menon in his speech as the special guest said that emphasis should be laid on how the backward people of the society can be brought into the mainstream of the society and how they can be evaluated equally.
He called upon the government to be sincere in implementing the laws enacted for the disabled.
Later, smart white caines were distributed among the visually impaired people in Manikganj district through a virtual conference while, honours and grants were given to the meritorious students with visual impairments.
Earlier, a symbolic rally was held in front of the National Disability Development Foundation on the occasion of the day.
