KLANG: Disabled activists have always said there were many amongst them who were mired in poverty.
Unable to work because of their disabilities as well as lack of funds and opportunities to start businesses, many struggled to fend for themselves.
Budget 2024, which allocated RM1.2bil in various forms of assistance to people with disabilities (PWDs) is a ray of hope for many in the community.
The aid included caring for the chronically ill and bedridden, unemployment benefits and allowances for those who are working.
Beginning next year, the allowance for disabled trainees participating in community rehabilitation programmes will also be increased to RM300 from the current RM150.
In addition to this, a special financing facility of RM50mil will be made available through Bank Simpanan Nasional, to disabled micro-entrepreneurs.
Damai Disabled Persons Association president V. Murugesan said the RM1.2bil is indeed a significant allocation and it is encouraging to hear the government is addressing the needs of the disabled community.
“The increased monthly allowances to 18,000 disabled trainees, as well as the allocation of funds to support disabled SMEs (small and medium enterprises) are positive steps towards curbing poverty among the community," he said.
Murugesan added he hoped the allocated funds would be utilised effectively to implement the proposed initiatives to make a meaningful impact in the lives of the disabled.
On another matter. Murugesan said having an accessible integrated transportation system is crucial for the disabled community to be able to take advantage of job and business opportunities provided by the government.
“Accessible transportation can help us overcome barriers and improve our participation in society," he added.
Alliance of Children with Cerebral Palsy vice-president Dr Mastura Mahamed has asked for the breakdown of funds for the various assistance that would be rendered.
“A clarification on the criteria to qualify for these allocations would also be good," she said.
As for the increase in allowance from RM150 to RM300 for PWDs participating in community rehabilitation programmes, Dr Mastura said she was happy with the government’s move.
“From what I know, most of the PWDs participating in these programmes are from the B40 families. This increase will help them pay for the increasing cost of medicines and supplements," she said.
She said financing for disabled micro-entrepreneurs would boost the confidence of people living with various disabilities, added that she would also like to know the plans the government had for disabled people, who chose paths other than entrepreneurship.
“What other career paths chosen by PWDs will the government be able to support?’’ asked Dr Mastura who is a lecturer at a public university.
