As of Friday, June 17, a total of 400 children had registered for the children with disabilities cash grant, according to Minister of Human Services and Social Security Dr Vindhya Persaud.
“Over 400 children living with disability have registered so far,” Persaud told reporters at the commissioning of the refurbished Night Shelter in Georgetown.
Registration for the $100,000 cash grant commenced last Wednesday, June 15.
On the first day of registration, Persaud said, two Region Four locations received 210 registrants.
“In Region, 4 at just one location, there was 150 registrants and 60 at another in the first day,” she said.
As the process continues countrywide, Persaud said the officers are also being sent into far-flung communities so that they can be accessible to citizens.
“This exercise is going very well because no longer are we focused on the sites. We are sending officers out into far-flung communities so that we can capture all the persons across Guyana,” she noted.
Just over two weeks ago, President Irfaan Ali announced that children living with disabilities would benefit from a one-time $100,000 cash grant and other key interventions.
The policy was extended on Friday when Persaud announced that all persons living with permanent disabilities as well as cancer patients and people living with HIV will benefit from lifetime public assistance.
“All persons, all living with permanent disabilities will be able to access public assistance without any need to qualify… So whether you are a child or an adult, it covers the entire spectrum of disability, physical and mental as well… That public assistance will be provided to them for the rest of their lives,” Persaud told the media on Friday morning.
