The central city of Da Nang is planning to make all public services fully accessible to the disabled by 2020, according to the municipal Department of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs.
DA NANG —
Department deputy director Nguyen Hung Hiep said yesterday that the city was the first locality in Viet Nam to introduce a comprehensive project for 16,000 disabled people in 2012-15 by which 50 per cent of newly constructed buildings, hospitals and public vehicles must be made user friendly to them.
All the disabled will receive a 50 per cent discount on public service including bus fares and entertainment fees.
The project will centre on various programmes of vocational training, housing, heath care, public traffic and entertainment.
"Priority policies will be adopted to help the handicapped find jobs because there are only seven enterprises in the city employing around 100 disabled persons," Hiep said, adding that the Viet Nam Business Process Outsourcing Company had recruited 30 disabled people.
"It's a challenge for the city in coming years when we have to settle life for a huge number of remaining people with disability."
According to the Da Nang Association of Disabled People, 30 disabled persons from the 500-member association found jobs last year.
"We have been struggling with unemployment with only six people recruited by businesses in the city so far this year," said association official Tran Dinh Hai.
"We have received only VND46 million (US$2,100) from donors – half the amount of last year's budget."
Hai added that the association had yet to build its own office in the city.
"The city has offered a priority policy to enterprises that employ the disabled in the coming years. We also seek sponsorship from international organisations in helping the disabled in the city," said Chairman Van Huu Chien. — VNS