People with disabilities staged a sit-in in front of the Ministry of Social Development in Koshi Province on June 25, as part of a protest rally. The demonstration was held in response to the provincial government’s decision to reduce the budget for the upcoming fiscal year 2025/2026, particularly affecting the Disability Prevention and Rehabilitation Program.
People with disabilities have been carrying out a series of protests following the government’s decision to cut the budget. They have expressed concern that instead of increasing the insufficient budget allocated in previous years, the government has further reduced it. They are demanding that the provincial government allocate an equivalent amount in its budget as proposed by the respective local levels in March, as per the guidelines set by the Ministry of Social Development.
The programs have been conducted through a 50-50 cost-sharing arrangement between the local and provincial governments. However, with the provincial government reducing the budget for this program in the upcoming fiscal year, its implementation is likely to be affected, according to Nabin Chandra Dhungel, Chairperson of the National Federation of the Disabled, Koshi Province.