10 Mar 2014

Government has taken a decision to introduce a social safety Net for People Living with Disabilities (PWDs) during the 2014/15 financial year which will also benefit care givers, Parliament was told.

The Assistant Minister for Presidential Affairs and Public Administration, Mr Gaotlhaetse Matlhabaphiri said in pursuit to attaining a comprehensive social safety net for people with disabilities, government had put together a task team of relevant professionals and stakeholders in the disability area to determine the methodology to be deployed in implementing the programme.

Responding to a question in Parliament, Mr Matlhabaphiri said once accepted, the programme would be implemented during the 2014/ 2015 financial year.

He also reiterated that there were no sustenance packages for care givers for PLWD and that People Living with Disabilities who had been assessed and found to be needy were assisted under the Destitute Policy of 2002.

Member of Parliament for Shoshong, Mr Phillip Makgalemele had wanted to know progress made in developing policies aimed at helping care givers of PLWD since the minister’s last assurance to Parliament during the fourth session of the 10th Parliament.

MP Makgalemele also asked about the methodology deployed for developing and time frame for finalizing the exercise given the challenging and demanding situation faced by these people. Ends