Government to further help disabled ( 2003-09-09 07:06) (China Daily)
The government yesterday pledged continuous efforts to help the country's 60
million-plus disabled people share equal development opportunities with
able-bodied counterparts and achieve greater personal wealth.
Disabled people are still one of the most vulnerable groups in the country,
with thousands unemployed and poverty rates worse than the national average,
said Chairman of the China Disabled Persons' Federation (CDPF) Deng Pufang
yesterday, marking the opening of the fourth congress of the federation.
President Hu Jintao, Premier Wen Jiabao, and Venus Ilagan, chairperson of
Disabled Peoples' International, also attended the opening session.
Vice-Premier Huang Ju delivered a speech at the meeting, promising that the
government will give more supports to the disabled people.
Deng told the meeting that the government will devote the first two decades
of this century to improving the basic conditions of disabled people and protect
their basic rights.
In one sentence, the development of disabled people should parallel that of
others in China, he said.
Deng also disclosed yesterday that the country is working on the Provisions
for the Protection of the Employment of Disabled Persons.
Moreover, the federation will step up its efforts for the occupational
training of more disabled people.
Thanks to the help from the government and the persistent efforts of the
disabled people themselves, as many as 84 per cent of the country's disabled
population were employed by the end of the year 2002.
For the first time in the nation's history, the central labour authority
awarded the honour of Technical Expert, the highest honour China awards to its
outstanding labourers, to 23 disabled persons last month.
In addition to helping capable disabled people to stand on their own, Deng
promised social security and healthcare for all "jobless and poverty-stricken''
disabled persons in the near future.
United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan delivered a message marking the
congress, praising China's efforts in assisting its disabled population.
The United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific
also sent a message to congratulate the congress, in which it places the Chinese
Government among the strongest supporters of the elaboration process of an
international convention to protect and promote the rights and dignity of people
with disabilities.
