Jaheda Khatun, aged around 40 years, has become tired with her four sons as all of them are physically and mentally challenged and the society did not extended any support to the poor woman to rear her children.

"My sons could not be admitted to any government primary school although I managed to get them admitted to a private school. But they were ousted after three months saying that other students would be spoiled if they continue to study there," said Jaheda at the Caregivers Conference of Persons with Intellectual and Multiple Disabilities in the city yesterday.

The conference was organised by SEID Trust in association with Actionaid and Steps Towards Development at Biam auditorium.

Jaheda said she is living at the Geneva Camp as nobody is willing to rent house to her because of her children with disability.

"My relatives also used to scold me saying that my children are the results of my sin," continued Jaheda in an emotion-choked voice, adding that only the Seid Trust has come forward to provide education to her children recently.

Like Jaheda, there are many women who have to suffer repression from the husband's family only for giving birth to physically or mentally challenged children.

" It is time to change the attitude of the society towards the people with disability. At the same time, the government should formulate policy to establish the rights of children with disability and quota system in every school for them," said Taleya Rehman, executive director of DernocracyWatch.

"If we want to bring the children with disabilities into mainstream, we will have to incorporate them in mainstream education," said Ranjan Karmakar of Steps Towards Development.

Speaking as chief guest Secretary to social welfare ministry MA Hai Hawladar said the government is working with non-government organisations for the development

of people with disabilities.

" The government allocated Tk 100 crore for these people in the current fiscal year," he said, stressing the need to update the Disability Welfare Act 2001 so that the people with disability can be benefited.

Mahbub Kabir of Actionaid, Khondoker Zahurul Alam of Jatiya Protibondhi Forum, Journalist Mahfuj Ullah, Dr Mohammad Shahnewaj of Grameenphone and Monsur Ahmed Chowdhury of Impact Foundation also spoke..