The chairperson for Persons Living With Disability (PWD) in the Nkwanta South Municipality of the Oti region, Issac Gbande, has called on the government to increase their share of the assembly common fund from 3% to 5%, to enable them to cater for more members.
According to him, the tranche allocated to the members is woefully inadequate thus making it difficult for the leaders to equitably distribute the funds among the members.
The chairman also expressed worries over the unavailability of opportunities for his members owing to their conditions, a situation he said has been negatively impacting their livelihoods.
“Persons living with disability are often not given opportunities in the job market, so we are largely dependent on our relatives. In hard times like this, we are adversely affected. That is why we plead for opportunities in the public sector,” Mr Gbande pleaded.
He made the call when the Nkwanta South Municipal Assembly for the first time disbursed funds together with some assorted items to the PWDs.
He also used the opportunity to appeal to the public to desist from the use of offensive words such as “Pozo,” in addressing persons living with a disability because such lowers their self-esteem in society. He said the public should rather be informed that “disability is not inability”.
In attendance at the programme was the Member of Parliament for Nkwanta South Constituency Dr Geoffrey Kini. He thanked the assembly and Social Welfare Service for the initiative.
He also urged that although not enough, the beneficiaries should use the monies for a good course to alleviate their sufferings amid the global economic crisis.
Some of the beneficiaries thanked the Social Welfare Service and the assembly for supporting them noting that they can now take care of their families.
“They have helped me a lot with a sewing machine. With handicrafts, no one can take your skill from you. You can survive with it so I am grateful for the help they have offered” one of the beneficiaries said.
“I completed a diploma course in teaching and wanted to further my education so I laid my trouble before them and they have today met my need which I so much appreciate,” a woman said.
