Providing micro-credit to people with disability can reduce overall poverty in the country, said the speakers at an opinion-sharing meeting in the city yesterday.

They said though the government and some non-government organisations have taken different steps to reduce poverty, there are no special measures for lending micro-credit to challenged people to make them self-reliant.

The meeting titled 'Micro-credit for the hardcore poor and participation of the people with disability' was organised by Action on Disability and Development (ADD) in association with Palli Karma Sahayok Foundation (PKSF), Jatiya Protibondhi Nari Parishad and Jatiya Trinomul Protibondhi Sangstha at LGED Bhaban.

The speakers said development of the country is not possible without incorporating the people with disability in the mainstream of development.

This is also very important to reduce poverty and attain Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), they added.

The speakers said out of the country's extreme poor 15 lakh are challenged people, and without

developing them it is not possible to achieve the MDGs.

They said the people with disability cannot participate in the country's development activities due to some negative perceptions about them among the people in all spheres of life, even in their own families.

Akhtar Hossain, chairman of Jatiya Trinomul Protibondhi Sangstha, said the challenged people who are neglected in the society and even in their families are also deprived of their rights.

Though the government has reserved 10 percent jobs for the challenged people, their fate is yet to be changed as they cannot make themselves capable due to lack of adequate facilities, he added.

Adan Islam, advocacy officer of ADD, said the challenged people face mainly three types of discrimination- institutional, environmental and attitudinal while challenged women are more neglected than their male counterparts.

Low income, negative approach, lack of awareness, education and training in skill development activities and reluctance to give loans often make the capable challenged people incapable, she added.

Existing micro-credits for the hardcore poor should also be

extended to challenged people, she said, adding that if given microcredits, people with disability could contribute significantly to the wellbeing of the country.

Mosharraf Hossain, country representative of ADD, said incorporating the people with disability into all activities is a must to reduce poverty.

He said unless the micro-credit financing programme is made challenged-people-friendly, development of the country will not be possible.

He urged all to come forward so that the challenged people can get employment opportunity and lead a normal life like others.

Speaking as chief guest Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed, managing director of PKSF, said the distressed condition of the people with disability will not change until they are brought to the mainstream of development.

"If we can ensure micro-credit financing programme flexible for them, we will be able to empower the people with disability economically," he added.

M A Hakim, general manager of PKSF, Eric Henley, senior social development advisor of DFID, Umme Kulsum Ranjana, chairman of Jatiya Protibondhi Nari Parishad and 118 union level challenged people were among others present at the meeting.