Minister for Communication and Information Technology, Jagadish Kharel, has said that discrimination against persons with disabilities has not yet ended in Nepal.
Speaking at a program organized on Wednesday to mark the 34th International Day of Persons with Disabilities, he stated that even in the republican era, people with disabilities continue to face discrimination. He shared that around 2.5% of the country’s population consists of persons with disabilities.
Among them, about 150,000 individuals live with severe disabilities, and their condition remains difficult. Minister Kharel admitted that the state has not been able to provide adequate support to those with severe disabilities. Despite federalism, persons with disabilities have not been able to fully experience its benefits, he added.
He pointed out that essential materials and assistive devices required by persons with disabilities are still not easily available at the local level. Stating that government agencies are not yet disability-friendly, he informed that the Ministry of Communication is preparing to develop a disability-friendly digital platform.
“As a citizen of the Republic of Nepal and as the government spokesperson, I must admit courageously that despite efforts to end discrimination, it still exists,” he said.
Minister Kharel added that the main responsibilities of the current government are to ensure good governance and conduct elections on time, and that the government is working accordingly.
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