Parents, guardians accused of abusing disability grants
Urgent need to intervene
A government official has warned that some parents and guardians misuse grant money for personal gain intended to support children living with disabilities.
Some parents and guardians of children living with disabilities in Namibia are reportedly abusing government grants paid out to support the intended beneficiaries.
Instead, the young beneficiaries are often left to languish in abject poverty, a government youth officer has warned.
Last year, government raised disability grants for children under the age of 18 from N$250 to N$1 300. However, despite this significant increase, many beneficiaries do not reap the benefit of the funds, as parents or guardians use the money for their own purposes, neglecting the needs of the children.
Address problem urgently
The dilemma was highlighted by ministry of sports youth officer Tobias Mumoye, who works with young people with disabilities, during a workshop at Ongwediva earlier this month.
"We need to find ways to address some of these challenges. The beneficiaries deserve to receive the grants, but at the end of the day, they are not the ones benefitting from them. There are those guardians who make use of them. This is totally wrong," Mumoye stressed.
The workshop was attended by youth living with disabilities from Oshana, Ohangwena, Omusati and Oshikoto regions from 10 to 21 July.
Mumoye said he has heard complaints about the problem on the radio and added that the abuse of the grant only affects some areas, but the issue keeps cropping up, indicating it is a serious problem.
He urged parents and guardians to meet the government halfway in making sure the needs of the beneficiaries are met and the grant is used appropriately.
Preserve integrity of grant
Mumoye said, as it stands, stakeholders have to be consulted about how to address this pressing challenge.
Presently, the ministry supports nearly 7 000 children, with a monthly expenditure of N$8.9 million on the child disability grant.
Among the other challenges highlighted during the workshop, the youngsters expressed feeling discriminated against in the job market, despite job applications encouraging people with disabilities to apply.
"When it comes to competition, the person can be qualified enough, but they are not selected because of the disability that they have, so they are often demotivated to keep pushing. Even when they arrive for interviews, some of the buildings cannot cater for those in wheelchairs, an indication already that they cannot be considered for the position," he said.
Mumoye said there is also an imbalance in terms of employment, education, training and innovation, as well as full participation when it comes to the political agenda.
"Study materials are expensive for people with different disabilities. It is often difficult for institutions to provide them with those materials due to a lack of resources. Everything is expensive; that is the slogan that you will find in the market. They remain excluded in some of the vocational centres countrywide," he said.
Minister vows to act
Sports minister Agnes Tjongarero promised to engage various other government ministries to address some of the issues raised at the workshop to prevent "anyone from feeling left out".
Tjongarero said the most affected group of people with disabilities is those aged between 16 and 35, who are underrepresented in the labour market. This, she said, is disheartening, and she vowed to engage with the labour ministry to fix the problem.
Instead, the young beneficiaries are often left to languish in abject poverty, a government youth officer has warned.
Last year, government raised disability grants for children under the age of 18 from N$250 to N$1 300. However, despite this significant increase, many beneficiaries do not reap the benefit of the funds, as parents or guardians use the money for their own purposes, neglecting the needs of the children.
Address problem urgently
The dilemma was highlighted by ministry of sports youth officer Tobias Mumoye, who works with young people with disabilities, during a workshop at Ongwediva earlier this month.
"We need to find ways to address some of these challenges. The beneficiaries deserve to receive the grants, but at the end of the day, they are not the ones benefitting from them. There are those guardians who make use of them. This is totally wrong," Mumoye stressed.
The workshop was attended by youth living with disabilities from Oshana, Ohangwena, Omusati and Oshikoto regions from 10 to 21 July.
Mumoye said he has heard complaints about the problem on the radio and added that the abuse of the grant only affects some areas, but the issue keeps cropping up, indicating it is a serious problem.
He urged parents and guardians to meet the government halfway in making sure the needs of the beneficiaries are met and the grant is used appropriately.
Preserve integrity of grant
Mumoye said, as it stands, stakeholders have to be consulted about how to address this pressing challenge.
Presently, the ministry supports nearly 7 000 children, with a monthly expenditure of N$8.9 million on the child disability grant.
Among the other challenges highlighted during the workshop, the youngsters expressed feeling discriminated against in the job market, despite job applications encouraging people with disabilities to apply.
"When it comes to competition, the person can be qualified enough, but they are not selected because of the disability that they have, so they are often demotivated to keep pushing. Even when they arrive for interviews, some of the buildings cannot cater for those in wheelchairs, an indication already that they cannot be considered for the position," he said.
Mumoye said there is also an imbalance in terms of employment, education, training and innovation, as well as full participation when it comes to the political agenda.
"Study materials are expensive for people with different disabilities. It is often difficult for institutions to provide them with those materials due to a lack of resources. Everything is expensive; that is the slogan that you will find in the market. They remain excluded in some of the vocational centres countrywide," he said.
Minister vows to act
Sports minister Agnes Tjongarero promised to engage various other government ministries to address some of the issues raised at the workshop to prevent "anyone from feeling left out".
Tjongarero said the most affected group of people with disabilities is those aged between 16 and 35, who are underrepresented in the labour market. This, she said, is disheartening, and she vowed to engage with the labour ministry to fix the problem.
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