OF late we have seen many initiatives by the Government to provide assistance to disabled individuals as evidenced by the higher budget allocation.

There’s also the increase in monthly allowance from RM50 per month last year to RM150 this year. However, as with any government initiative, implementation is still a problem.

My child is an OKU (Orang Kurang Upaya or Disabled Individual). To obtain this designation, we had to have the disability certified by doctors and registration done by Welfare Department.

He is entitled to receive the monthly aid but for the whole of 2007, the money was not credited to his account. It seems that many others are facing the same problem.

A reason, my son’s school says, is that there are students who attend regular schools and special school and receive two allocations. To avoid this, the crediting of the monthly aid has been suspended.

Each OKU has a unique ID, which is the number on their birth certificate, MyKad or MyKid. The problem is obviously the absence of a central database that ensures that there are no duplications.

Handicapped persons should not be denied their entitlement only because of the shortcomings of the delivery mechanism.

CONCERNED MOTHER,

Kuala Lumpur.

Source: The Star – February 29, 2008