Human society is made up of diverse elements. There is more diversity among the members of the society. Individual entities exist among the people living in the society. Apart from internal qualities and faults, there are also many differences externally. Some people are tall, some are short, some are fair, some are black and there are many who have no arms, no legs, no vision. Again, many cannot hear or speak. These people are the exception in the society. They are generally called disabled.
People who are outside the normal range of life are disrupted due to physical and mental defects. In other words, those who have difficulty in doing normal activities and thinking in the way of life are called disabled. According to the International Labor Organization (ILO), "a person with a disability is a person whose perceived physical and mental disability lowers the prospect of adequate employment." Disability, as defined by the United Nations, is any obstruction (caused by physical or mental damage) that completely disrupts a person's normal functioning. In other words, a person is said to be handicapped if he or she is forced to lead a normal life due to some negative social attitudes and structural barriers. In general, disability is the inability to do the tasks that ten people can do in their daily life due to their disability, depending on their age, gender, race, culture or social status.
Number of persons with disabilities:
According to the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), about 15% of the world's population is disabled in some way. According to a 2013 World Health Organization (WHO) survey, 10 percent of the world's population is disabled. As such, the number of disabled people in Bangladesh is 18 million. Male to female disability ratio is 48: 52. 38 lakh physically handicapped, 42 lakh mentally handicapped, 33 lakh visually impaired, 25 lakh hearing and other handicapped. According to a study conducted by CSID, 40.95 per cent of women and adolescents in the country are victims of disability due to birth defects, while 3.32 per cent are due to misconduct and malpractice. In addition, 55.64 percent of the people became disabled due to various diseases, fever, burns and accidents.
Social status of persons with disabilities:
The position of the disabled in the society is highly neglected. People with disabilities are looked down upon everywhere, starting from the family. And like ten normal people, people with disabilities are supposed to enjoy all the social rights, but they are always deprived of it. Relatives keep them away for fear of social status. Their free movement in the society is hindered. They are discriminated against in education, employment, employment, marriage, healthcare, etc. They cannot integrate themselves into society by being victims of various forms of discrimination
Location of persons with disabilities in the family:
The social position of any human being is created from the family. This is especially true for people with disabilities. People with disabilities in our country are somehow neglected in the family. But more in some families, less in some families. By accepting the curse of disability due to negligence, they are forced to live a neglected deprived life. The situation of the disabled in poor families is more miserable. Many times they have to go through half a day of starvation. In most families, people with disabilities are considered a burden.
Responsibilities for persons with disabilities:
People with disabilities are an integral part of our society. It is never possible for society to move forward by leaving them behind in neglect. We have a responsibility to them as part of society. If these responsibilities are fulfilled properly, the disabled will not become a burden of the society but an asset. The responsibilities of the disabled.
Attitude change:
The first step in taking care of people with disabilities is to change their attitude towards them. There are many parents who are ashamed to bring their disabled children out and mix with other children. But this kind of mindset changes us
Social recognition of people with disabilities:
People with disabilities must be accepted as part of society. People with disabilities must be recognized as an integral part of society as a whole. They should be given importance in enjoying all the opportunities of the society. In each case, they have seized it, despite obstacles we can scarcely imagine. "
Education system:
Although 96% of children in Bangladesh are enrolled in primary schools, only 11% of the total children with disabilities get admission in schools. Which is very negligible in the context of time. For this, education for the disabled should be arranged on the basis of disability.
Medical Responsibilities:
Most government and private hospitals, even medical institutions like Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University, Dhaka Medical College, do not have a sloping path for wheelchairs for the disabled. Which is very sad. It is the social and state responsibility of all of us to make the treatment of the disabled free in all parts of the country, to show them to the doctors in the chambers, to give them the opportunity first.
Special Allowance for the Disabled:
In 2009, the Bangladesh government provided a special allowance of Rs. 200 per month for the disabled. But this allowance is much less than at present. So by increasing the amount of this allowance to help the disabled financially
Help along the way:
We see various handicapped people on the way. It is our social responsibility to assist the visually impaired in crossing the road, holding the handicapped physically or otherwise. In addition, some other responsibilities are-
- We have to take programs to increase social mass awareness.
- Separate industrial factories should be set up for the employment of persons with disabilities.
- Special facilities for the disabled should be increased in the field of education.
- People with disabilities need to organize suitable sports or cultural events for their entertainment.
- Disability quota should be increased in jobs and other fields.
- Special laws should be enacted for the protection of the disabled and its proper implementation should be done.
People with disabilities are neglected in society and in most cases deprived. The family and economic situation of many is very miserable. The standard of living is very low. As a developing country, it is very difficult to rehabilitate such a large number of people with disabilities. Therefore, all sections of the society, especially the rich, should come forward for the welfare of the disabled.
