President Yameen: Fifteen flats will be issued to persons with disabilities this year

President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom has said that fifteen flats will be leased this year to persons with disabilities, as a way of recognizing their efforts.

The President announced this in his address at the Disability Award Ceremony held at the Islamic Centre today.

“There are those among us who are skilled despite their disabilities. We need to recognize their efforts. With compassion and good care, they can be reverted to general standards. Fifteen flats have been previously given to the disabled as well. With god’s grace, we will give another fifteen flats this year,” the president said.

The president said that currently there are about 5,400 registered persons with disabilities, and a lot of work has been done this week to understand their needs; thus, applicants for flats will be evaluated and given points via a special procedure.

“Under my government, I want to establish a mechanism in the point system for flats, that would give priority to persons with disabilities and their families,” the president said.

The president stressed the importance of increasing caregivers for the disabled, which the government will fully support, and added that caregivers need to be assigned also from the educational and health field.

In addition to this, employers also should give more attention to creating job opportunities and to hiring persons with disabilities, the president said.