To empower and improve the livelihoods of people living with disabilities, the Ability Bhutan Society (ABS) is carrying out a three-year project in Tsirang. Titled ‘Engaging and Empowering Persons with Disability,’ the project intends to initiate programmes that will engage them in meaningful and productive activities.
A team of enumerators led by two officials from the ABS completed collecting data from across the 12 gewogs in Tsirang recently. The team collects data concerning types of disabilities, social and educational inclusion of persons with disability in the society, and economic status among others.
The data will help the organization get accurate information and understand the needs and challenges of people living with disabilities in the district.
Pema Deki, ABS’s district coordinator in Tsirang said the programme is to prompt early intervention by identifying the disabilities early on in life. “If the disability condition is identified early, the intervention can also be provided right on time. So, we can improve or at least prevent some of the disability conditions.”
The survey found that close to 800 people in the district are living with various forms of disabilities.
The ABS will start initiating different programmes for these people and their caregivers after analyzing the survey data. The programmes will include providing seed money to start income-generating activities ranging from knitting to farming among others.
“When we say that we will uplift the lives and livelihoods of a person with a disability, it doesn’t mean that person with disability themselves have to avail the services. But their caregivers and parents can receive our services,” said the district coordinator.
For the younger generations living with disabilities, the organization plans to enrol them in schools with SEN programmes depending on their interests and willingness.
The Ability Bhutan Society has completed such projects in Chhukha, Dagana, Punakha, Sarpang and Trashigang in the first phase. The project is being carried out with support from the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development and German Leprosy and TB Relief Association based in Germany.
Pema Tshewang, Tsirang
Edited by Phub Gyem
