According to the Department of Census and Statistics of the Government of Sri Lanka, there were more than 1.6 million persons living with disabilities in the country in 2015. In an effort to meet the specific needs of persons with disabilities, the Government of Sri Lanka introduced a Monthly Assistance for Persons with Disabilities cash transfer in 2007, in order to provide income support and protection to this vulnerable group. The cash transfer, provided under the national Mahinda Chintana programme, or ‘vision for the future’, is administered by the Ministry of Social Empowerment and Welfare and overseen by the National Council and National Secretariat for Persons with Disabilities.
The Mahinda Chintana programme includes a diverse range of social services for persons with disabilities, including the provision of access to assistive devices, financial assistance for building accessible housing, self employment incentives, medical coverage and a cash transfer for families with children or other family member with disabilities. In order to be eligible families must have a monthly income of maximum LKR3,000 (approximately USD20). The number of family-members with a disability is also taken into consideration and priority is given to families where the breadwinner has a disability. The amount of the unconditional and non-contributory cash transfer is LKR3,000 per month. In 2014 this cash transfer reached 16,603 families across the country. By the end of 2015 the scheme is expected to be expanded to reach all persons with disabilities in Sri Lanka.
Sri Lanka’s commitment to the rights of persons with disabilities has resulted in the formation of the National Secretariat for Persons with Disabilities in 1995, and the National Policy on Disability, which was introduced in 2003. While plans are underway to expand coverage to include all persons with disabilities, consideration may be given to increase the level of coverage up to the nationally defined minimum income threshold. Nonetheless, schemes such as the monthly assistance available for persons with disabilities in Sri Lanka are essential in building a national social protection floor that is inclusive of all, including those with disabilities.
Further Reading:
- World Bank (2003). National Policy on Disability for Sri Lanka. Accessed from: http://siteresources.worldbank.org/INTSRILANKA/Resources/NatPolicyDisabilitySep2003srilanka1.pdf on February 18 2016.