NADRA-registered: Physically challenged people top 639,096

Officials say previous govt could not address the issues facing the physically challenged despite funding.

ISLAMABAD: The National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) has registered some 639,096 physically impaired persons during the last five years so they can benefit from various projects the federal government will introduce in the coming months.

According to the available data, the estimated figures pertaining to physically impaired persons include some 275,000 men, 225,000 women and 139,000 children.

As many as 334,000 persons are physically handicapped. Some 125,973 persons are mentally challenged in the country. As many as 85, 254 persons are visually impaired while some 93,869 persons are hearing and/or speech impaired.

Officials of the Special Education and Social Welfare Ministry admitted that previous governments could not address the issues facing the physically challenged despite funding by the international community running into millions of dollars.

Secretary Ministry of Social Welfare, KB Rind said that the current government was all set to launch a special drive ‘to educate physically challenged persons’.

Meanwhile, officials told The Express Tribune that the Statistics Division had never been assigned to collect data on disabled persons. The National Council for the Rehabilitation of Disabled Persons (NCRDP) has not made any attempt to collect authentic data for gauging the ratio of disability to the population, according to them.

President Asif Ali Zardari had announced a special scheme for special persons last year dedicating some millions of rupees for their welfare. The president had launched the ‘Special Persons - Special Cards’ scheme, describing it as a ‘far-reaching initiative’ to address the needs of physically challenged persons. But unfortunately the Bait-ul-Mal has so far not given out any stipend to them.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 8^th, 2011.