23.4pc households paid bribes to be enlisted for disability allowance: TIB

Nearly 23.4 percent of households had to pay bribes to be enlisted for disability allowance, said a study by the Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB).  

In addition, some 19.3 percent of households did not get their disability allowance on time while some 11 per cent were the victims of nepotism, the study revealed today (Thursday).

Moreover, among the registered persons with disability by the Department of Social Services, about 16 per cent have not come under the coverage of the disability allowance

TIB conducted the study after analysing data following seven indicators of governance including Legal and institutional capacity, coordination, participation, transparency, accountability, responsiveness, and irregularities and corruption.

In FY 2019-2020, as many as 200,000 persons with disabilities (PWDs) were included in the disability allowance programme.

The report styled “Inclusiveness in Development and Disability: Governance Challenges and Way Forward”, however, also says there are allegations that a part of that allowance has been embezzled.

Some officers of Upazila Social Service Office, officials of concerned banks and people’s representatives at Union Parishad are allegedly involved in the embezzlement, it shows.

In accordance with the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities 2006 (UNCRPD), the Rights and Protection of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2013 [Section 2 (9)] defined disability as a long-term or permanent physical, mental, intellectual, developmental inadequacy or sensory impairment on a person caused by any reason which hinders his or her full and effective participation in the society on the basis of equity.

Doctors in charge of some government hospitals and some of their assistants have been accused of extorting money to certify people as PWDs, the Bangladesh chapter of the Berlin-based global graft watchdog Transparency International finds.

No separate budget allocation has been made for the respective disability sector under different ministries. Although the budget is spent separately under different ministries, it is not clear whether it is the actual allocation for the respective sectors associated with disability, the report mentioned.

TIB conducts various research and advocacy activities on marginalised, backward and disadvantaged communities.

As a part of this, TIB organised a consultative meeting on 18 July 2017, where the demand was expressed to conduct a research on the inclusion of PWDs in development with a governance lens. In this backdrop, this study was undertaken.

The research, which aims to identify the governance challenges that hinder the inclusion of persons with disabilities in development, was conducted from December 2019 to November 2020.

In its 14-point recommendations, TIB said realistic reform of laws and regulations must be made and implementation of laws must be ensured.

It also suggested that separate allocations should be made under different ministries regarding disability.

TIB urged the government to take effective initiatives to meet basic livelihood needs of children and individuals with disabilities during all types of disasters.

TIB also called upon the government to punish the corrupt officials and employees who provide services to the persons with disabilities.