Thinley Namgay
The National Council (NC) presented a series of resolutions aimed at improving the lives of persons with disabilities (PwDs), urging a more coordinated and effective approach to addressing their needs.
The NC submitted 38 resolutions to the government from its previous session to ensure a comprehensive, collaborative, and consolidated approach to maximise the impact of limited resources, eliminate duplication of efforts, and strengthen coordination to effectively address the needs of PwDs.
A follow-up report on resolutions concerning PwDs was presented at the ongoing 34th session of the NC by the Deputy Chairperson of the Social and Cultural Affairs Committee, Gasa’s NC Member, Tshering, at the ongoing National Assembly session yesterday.
Tshering stated that the committee is satisfied with the responses from various implementing agencies regarding their activities and plans to improve the lives of PwDs.
One of the key resolutions focused on strengthening the implementation of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD). In response, the Office of the Cabinet Affairs for Strategic Cooperation (OCASC) has completed a comprehensive assessment of the national social protection framework.
OCASC plans to develop targeted programmes to address the social protection needs of vulnerable groups, including PwDs. This includes improving data collection, running awareness campaigns, and consulting with relevant stakeholders. If required, a web-based resource centre for PwDs will also be established.
For the resolution on inclusive education, the Ministry of Education and Skills Development (MoESD) plans to make schools accessible by constructing new infrastructure and retrofitting existing facilities within the current five-year plan.
The ministry will support all inclusive schools with assistive technology, adapted furniture, sensory equipment, and teaching and learning resources.
A budget provision of Nu 100 million (M) has been allocated for the 13th Plan, with Nu 20M allocated for the current fiscal year.
In 2024, 1,253 children with disabilities were reported to have enrolled in 44 inclusive schools across the country, and around 5,103 children with disabilities are expected to be out of school.
Awareness and sensitisation on disability and inclusive education services have been conducted for local leaders, communities, and parents in collaboration with relevant stakeholders and CSOs, especially for out-of-school children with disabilities. Additionally, home-based intervention and services are provided to learners who cannot attend school.
Currently, more than 1,000 teachers have been trained in inclusive education, with about 1,500 more to be trained under the 13th Plan.
“Currently, 23 inclusive schools have hostel facilities; all central schools will be provided with hostel facilities for children with disabilities. New hostels will be constructed in inclusive schools as needed,” the ministry stated.
On the resolution for better health services for PwDs, the Ministry of Health (MoH) is prioritising outreach and early intervention through the “Service with Care and Compassion Initiative” (SCCI). MoH has allocated Nu 25M in the current plan as part of the “People-Centered Health Care Services” project to fund this initiative.
MoH also requested additional human resources from RCSC for the health sector and is working to train health workers to effectively guide PwDs and their families toward relevant support systems through various initiatives.
The ministry will conduct a deeper analysis of the dataset from NHS 2023 to understand the causes or determinants of disability among the Bhutanese population.
The ministry is also committed to establishing clear guidelines and a system for issuing disability certificates to ensure that PwDs can readily access the services and benefits they need.
Regarding the resolution on enhancing accessible facilities, the Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport (MoIT) mentioned that assessments encompassing different typologies and areas, including towns like Khaling, Thimphu, and Samdrup Jongkhar, have been planned for PwDs.
The Department of Surface Transport (DoST) has identified key priorities to enhance public transportation, including strategic initiatives to expand bus networks connecting towns and villages, implementing a hub-and-spoke model with urban centres serving as nodes, using varied vehicle types for long-distance and last-mile connectivity, integrating cable car systems for challenging mountainous routes, and installing basic bus stops at strategic locations.
For prioritising accessibility improvements in culturally significant monasteries, the Department of Culture and Dzongkha Development stated that universal access is challenging in heritage sites due to the location and topography. “However, for new projects like Sarpang Dzong, we have constructed ramps for easy accessibility, and for the Wangdue Choeling Project, we have installed lift systems.”
On the recommendation for CSOs as partners in inclusion, the Civil Society Organisations Authority mentioned that many initiatives have been undertaken, including investments in commercial ventures and social enterprises, flexible endowment fund requirements, streamlined fundraising processes, and guidelines and sensitisation efforts.
However, the NC did not receive responses from the government on recommendations for economic security, ICT, and raising public awareness, such as job quotas, housing support, and disability allowances for PwDs.