“We have 31 draft bylaws for the Council’s Regional Legislative Body. And the bylaw on the protection of disabled people will only be submitted next year and it is expected that it will be endorsed in 2012,” the city’s Regulation and Law Bureau head Wahyono said Monday.

The council had previously said it expected to deliberate 30 draft bylaws in 2011, and that three of those — on traffic problems, flood mitigation and employment — would be prioritized.

Wahyono added that the administration had submitted a draft bylaw on disabled people five years ago.

“Maybe the council thought that draft bylaws on other issues were more important,” he said.

Separately, the City Social Affairs Agency said that the draft bylaw would be a significant first step in eliminating discrimination against disabled people.

The Social Affairs Agency’s Social Rehabilitation and Service Division head Winarni said the draft bylaw had been on a long journey before it arrived on her desk.

“It has been discussed with stakeholders that have the greatest interest in its endorsement, including the Social Affairs Agency and associations of disabled people,” she said.

The bylaw was based on a 1998 government regulation mandating efforts to improve the welfare of disabled people, including by providing public facilities that would aid their independence, she said.

“The bylaw is expected to focus on the rights of equality for disabled people so that they can work and do activities like regular people,” Winarni said.

The bylaw includes the right for disabled people to have access to regular public schools.

The bylaw will also require buildings and business establishments to set up facilities that would
aid disabled people to perform their activities.

It is estimated that there are around 35,000 disabled people in the capital.

However, the Social Affairs Agency’s statistics put the number at 9,785, which includes 4,523 physically challenged people, 1,642 mentally ill people, 986 mentally challenged people, 1,140 blind people and 1,494 deaf people.

The city administration has allocated Rp 1.4 million (US$154) for each disabled person. The financial aid has been distributed to around 1,000 disabled people since the beginning of last year.

“We expect that with the financial aid they can start their own business so that they can be financially independent,” Winarni said.

The administration has also set up workshops and shelters to train disabled people in trades and
business.

Popular

Growth without gain: Why Indonesians don't feel the economy

Police name Deli Serdang deputy speaker as defamation suspect

Outsourcing reform: Protection with two-tier responsibility