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YK Puddle
The National Commission’s (NC) Social and Cultural Affairs Committee (SCAC) yesterday put forward a series of recommendations aimed at improving the lives of persons with disabilities (PWD).
Organisations serving people with disabilities and students also took part in the discussion. Discussions on the recommendations will continue today.
The Commission also made 35 recommendations in eight areas to complement the government’s efforts and ensure a more inclusive and equitable society for Bhutanese citizens.
The recommendations include strengthening policy implementation, improving education and healthcare services, raising public awareness, and ensuring nationwide accessibility.
The recommendations come after the 2023 National Health Survey report showed a sharp increase in the number of people with disabilities in Bhutan.
The survey recorded approximately 48,000 persons with disabilities, a significant increase from the more than 15,000 recorded in the 2017 Population and Housing Census of Bhutan (PHCB).
The highest disability rates are in Dagana, Pemagatshel, Lhuentse, Wangdue and Zhemgang.
Kesang Chuki Dorjee, Chairperson of SCAC, presented the report covering the background, observations on the status of implementation of the national disability policy, and data on accessibility of inclusive education and healthcare in Bhutan.
“In addition to preventive measures, there is a need to increase the number of foreign caregivers and make government information more accessible to people with disabilities,” she said.
She said it was important to ensure that people with disabilities in Bhutan had the necessary support, and the committee recommended bringing in foreign caregivers for those with disabilities who needed extra help. “It is also crucial to implement text-to-speech technology on government websites to make information more accessible.”
“Despite these efforts, implementation challenges remain. Limited awareness among key stakeholders, the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, high turnover in local governments, and the disarray following the disbanding of the Gross National Happiness Commission have hampered progress,” she said.
The committee also recommended a review of the NPPD to complement the government’s efforts during the 13th Five-Year Plan period.
In addition to vision, hearing, mobility, communication, self-care and cognitive abilities, NHS 2023 adds cognitive impairment, covering all forms of disability such as ADHD, dyslexia, Down syndrome, mental illness, brain injury and BroadCast Unitedlectual and learning disabilities such as dementia.
The committee’s recommendations include allotment of housing for persons with disabilities, disability allowance, priority investment in special education teachers, reservation of designated government jobs for persons with disabilities, and exploration of affordable transport options outside Thimphu.
Following the committee members’ presentations, the NC requested clarification on certain points and made suggestions on areas for improvement.
Disability in Bhutan is understood as long-term impairments – physical, mental, BroadCast Unitedlectual or sensory – combined with environmental barriers that prevent people from full and equal participation.
According to the World Health Organization, there are 1.3 billion people with disabilities worldwide.
The Constitution stipulates that the state provides protection for people when they are sick or lose their ability to work.
The National Policy on Persons with Disabilities (NPPD), adopted in 2019, aims to improve access to education, health, justice and protection services for persons with disabilities, emphasizing empowerment and participation in political and socio-economic development.
Bhutan signed the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in 2010 and ratified it in October 2023, becoming the 191st member state to formally protect the human rights of persons with disabilities.
The 13th Five-Year Plan allocates N1.1 million to support inclusive education initiatives, including teacher training, building disability-friendly infrastructure, and training Paralympic athletes.
The Commission’s recommendations focus on strengthening the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and policy implementation, inclusive education, health promotion and early intervention, economic security and accessibility.
Key recommendations include centralised data collection, stakeholder awareness and engagement, local government funding, inclusive decision-making, an online disability resource centre and expansion of affordable public transport options beyond Thimphu.
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