Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) who are street beggars may soon be integrated into various cooperatives to engage them in income generating activities as opposed to begging.

During the 3rd General Assembly of the National Council of Persons with Disabilities (NCPD) yesterday, the Executive Secretary of the Council, Emmanuel Ndayisaba, said that one of their key priorities this year is to increase the number of cooperatives and members, especially those begging from streets, to engage in income generating activities.

Ndayisaba said that the council currently has more than 30 cooperatives across the country with all the necessary facilities for use by PWDs.

"We are also planning to hold an anti-begging campaign throughout the country because we know they have the potential to do something and fend for themselves. We plan to increase the number of cooperatives to provide PWDs with skills,” he added.

Meanwhile, the government has reduced funds allocated to persons living with disabilities to Rwf 450,727,228 in the next fiscal year 2013-2014, down from Rwf 514,777,526 in the current fiscal year.

Ndayisaba noted that the council has a lot of strategies it needs to implement in order to improve the livelihoods of PWDs, plans that he fears may be hindered by the budget reduction even if they plan to put the available money to good use.

The State Minister for Local Government, Dr Alivera Mukabaramba, stated that the government will continue to support PWDs through educating them among other strategies.

"We shall work hand in hand with NCPD to help PWDs join cooperatives so they can have skills and be able to generate income for themselves and sustain their families,” she said.

Other challenges that currently face PWDs include the lack of the exact number of all the PWDs in the country, the lack of lawyers to handle their cases when their rights are abused, and lack of facilities to allow them access to public buildings.

Ndayisaba said the council was working with the National Housing Authority to ensure that public buildings are built in a way that allows easy access for PWDs.