Disability rights activists are calling for an increase in the budget in 2024 to improve accessible infrastructure in health facilities and fund an insurance scheme for people with disabilities.
They are also pushing for increased funding for organisations such as the Ministry of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities and the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
The National Platform for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities has proposed that 5 percent of each ministry’s budget should be set aside for persons with disabilities.
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Disability rights activists call for increased budget
What is the story
As the government prepares to present its Budget 2024 proposal on Tuesday, disability rights activists are calling for increased budgetary allocations to promote inclusive development for persons with disabilities. Arman Ali, executive director of the National Centre for Promotion of Employment for Persons with Disabilities, stressed the importance of allocating budgets to ministries and departments based on central and state government schemes.
Calling for improved accessible infrastructure in healthcare
He stressed the urgent need for budgetary allocations to strengthen accessible infrastructure, especially in community hospitals, primary health centres, district hospitals and sub-district hospitals. He warned that without such funds, persons with disabilities would continue to encounter significant obstacles in accessing health facilities. He also advocated for dedicated budgetary allocations for life and health insurance schemes specifically designed for persons with disabilities and urged increased funding for the implementation schemes of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act.
Calling for increased funding for disability rights
Ali further stressed the need for increased funding to NGOs, local committees and organisations supporting beneficiaries such as the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (DePwD), National Trust, RCI, NHFDC etc. The National Platform for Disability Rights (NPRD) echoed Ali’s sentiments and called for a multi-sectoral approach to address disability issues in line with the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act 2016. The NPRD suggested that 5% of inter-ministerial allocations should be earmarked for persons with disabilities.
NPRD calls for increased budgets for Ministry of Health and Ministry of Persons with Disabilities
The NPRD also sought increased funding for the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (DePwD) and the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare for the implementation of the Mental Health Act, 2017. It noted that funding for these departments has dwindled over time and even the amount allocated is often underutilized. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman is scheduled to present the full budget for 2024-25 on July 23.