Children’s disability grant distribution near complete, concerns being addressed

The government’s one-off cash grant for children living with disabilities is being distributed across the country and Minister of Human Services and Social Security, Dr. Vindhya Persaud, on Friday said that this process will be completed soon.

“We have managed to successfully complete over 75 to 80 per cent of the distribution, and we are hoping to complete this on the coast by next week,” Dr. Persaud told the News Room on Friday.

Beyond that, she said that distribution in the remaining regions, particularly in the riverain and hinterland communities, will be completed in two weeks’ time.

The provision of this grant was announced by President Dr. Irfaan Ali in June. Since then, the Ministry of Human Services and Social Security, through the National Commission on Disability (NCD), has been registering the children expected to benefit.

The President also announced plans to ensure that all children with a disability are automatically registered to receive the monthly public assistance and transportation support for them to get to and from learning institutions. He also spoke of the training of teachers to deliver special needs tutoring.

With the distribution of the grant, however, some concerns have been raised about children’s eligibility.

In response, Dr. Persaud underscored that the grant is meant for those children with established, or permanent disabilities, as catered for by the National Commission on Disability.

In Manawarin, Region One (Barima- Waini), concerns were raised about children’s eligibility. A Facebook post from the village’s page stated that numerous children who had been listed did not get the grant.

Dr. Persaud said another team will be sent into the community to investigate the situation there.

“… once there is a child in that community or any neighbouring community that would have to collect their grant at Manawarin, we have that child catered for and that child can collect the cash grant,” she said.