DUSHANBE, February 4, 2011, Asia-Plus — A new law on social protection of people with disabilities has gone into effect in Tajikistan early this year.
Davron Valiyev, head of the social protection department of the Ministry of Labor and Social Protection (MLSP), says the law on social protection of people with disabilities that was adopted in 1991 became obsolete.
“Besides, public management system has changed since that time and the law began to contradict the existing system,” Valiyev said.
According to him, the new law on social protection of disabled people stipulates a system of social dialogue at the level of government. Under this system, a council comprising representatives from state-run and public associations of people with disabilities will be set up to coordinate the associations’ activities.
The new law also provides for targeted programs for rehabilitation of people with disabilities and additional support for families having two and more disabled members, Valiyev added.
As of January 1, 2011, 157,000 people with disabilities, including 23,700 children, were registered in Tajikistan. 4,000 people with disabilities died in the country last year.
The national budget earmarks funds for centers for people with disabilities at the rate of 834.00 somoni per each dweller per month. A monthly food and medicine ration for people with disabilities and elderly people in these institutions is 241.00 somoni.
