20 Mar 2016

Government has introduced a P300 monthly cash transfer to help restore dignity and well-being of people living with disabilities (PLWDs), says the Minister for Presidential Affairs and Public Administration, Mr Dikgang Makgalemele.

Addressing the Central District Council (CDC) meeting on Thursday, Mr Makgalemele said the government had since prioritised the participation of people with disabilities in economic empowerment programmes.

However, he said there were those who were unable to participate or engage in these economic activities hence the need for their social protection.

Mr Makgalemele said beneficiaries of cash transfer would  be people with severe disabilities that restrict a person from performing or engaging in any socio-economic activity, rendering him/her dependent on other people for daily living activities.

He urged caregivers to provide maximum care for people with disabilities and ensure that the cash transfer was used entirely for their needs. He said the cash transfer would empower them to cover their immediate needs and enhance their social and economic inclusiveness.

Mr Kgalemele said since disability cash transfer targeted people with severe and profound disabilities as beneficiaries, assessment would be conducted to determine who qualifies to be assisted in the programme.
Disability as derived from the Revised National Disability Policy, is any deficit, be it physical, mental, intellectual, medical or sensory, whether congenital or acquired which when combined with environmental and societal barriers limits a person’s ability to function in society on an equal basis with others.

Mr Makgalemele said in addition to receiving the monthly P300 cash transfer for people living with disabilities, a child with severe and profound disabilities aged between zero and 18 years would also be assisted with a food basket and other needs as per the Orphans and Vulnerable Children Programme.

The cash transfer is aimed at empowering people with disability financially so that they can participate in the economy and also to cushion families, especially carers of people living with severe disabilities, from effects of poverty.
He said some caregivers would be appointed as proxies of the people with disabilities depending on the severity of the disability. Ends