A Ramadhan gift: Disabled can open shop at home
A Ramadhan gift from the government: Handicapped people can earn a living – with dignity. Now they can start small businesses at home or in the residential areas.The Ministry of Municipalities and Agricultural Affairs has approved the long-pending proposal by the five municipal councils.“We have received a letter from the Minister, Ali Saleh Al Saleh, notifying his approval. We also discussed the same in a meeting yesterday,” Manama Municipal Council secretary Jassim Redha said.“We will put in place some regulations to implement the government decision allowing the handicapped to start businesses such as cold stores, laundry, fruits and vegetables shops, among others, under the category of small businesses,” he said.“The proposal follows requests by a number of disabled people for help. The municipal zoning law forbids businesses in the residential areas. We are doing our best to help the handicapped earn their livelihood, in cooperation with the Ministry of Social Affairs. This is one sure way of integrating the disabled people in society.,” he said.Redha said they expected about 100 applications from the underprivileged in the Capital.Muharraq Municipal Council chairman Mohammed Al Wazzan said they had submitted the proposal about two years ago. “But then the ministry had rejected the proposal to allow needy people to open shops in residential areas. We expect about 50 applications.”He said: “The handicapped people can apply through their area municipalities for any small business of their choice such as tailoring, bakery, laundry and others. The applications will be processed under a set of strict criteria.”The head of Health and Environment committee at the the Central Municipal Council, Abbas Mahfoodh, said three years ago the council had discussed the matter. “We have forwarded 40 applications from the central area.”