A new law will soon be introduced in the National Assembly. It is the Disability Bill. The announcement was made by Fazila Jeewa-Daureeawoo, the Minister of Social Security, during a workshop on the theme ‘disability mainstreaming’, which was held at the municipality of Beau-Bassin/Rose-Hill, last Thursday. Intended for representatives of various ministries, this workshop aimed to find solutions to improve the quality of life of elderly people with disabilities.
In her speech, Fazila Jeewa-Daureeawoo explained that the bill is “a step in line with government policy to promote and protect the rights of people with disabilities. She also informed that the main objective of this new law, which will soon be enacted, is to provide people with disabilities with the proper framework to realize their potential and give them access to all the facilities and resources they need.
The rights of people with disabilities, she stressed, are a cross-cutting issue that involves all ministries, government institutions, the private sector, non-governmental organizations and the general public. As such, she called for concerted efforts by all stakeholders to bring about meaningful change in the lives of these people. “It is important that the Ministry understands the concept of disability mainstreaming. I want to help all ministries, institutions, private sector and the general public to create an inclusive society,” she said.
Continuing, the Minister of Social Security listed several measures taken by the government to improve the conditions and rights of people with disabilities. “Since we came to power in 2014, the government has introduced several measures to improve the living conditions of otherwise able people. These include increasing the disability pension to Rs 9,000; amending the Building Control Act in 2017 to ensure that all new buildings are accessible to people with disabilities; constructing ramps in public buildings; and introducing disability-friendly modes of transportation.”
In addition, Fazila Jeewa-Daureeawoo elaborated on the measures implemented at her ministry to better support people with disabilities in their daily lives. These include the reimbursement of bus fares for children attending special schools; free medical visits at home; 100% exemption from customs duties on vehicles; reduced fares on Air Mauritius and the provision of a subsidy for the purchase of assistive devices such as wheelchairs, glasses or hearing aids.
In addition, she announced that her ministry has commissioned a consultant to conduct a comprehensive assessment of the disability sector in Mauritius.
