Discourse On Barriers And Social Safety Nets For Active Participation Of Persons With Disabilities In Society: An Evidence From Pakistan

Abstract

Present study is intended to investigate the discourse on barriers and social safety nets for
active participation of persons with disabilities in society. Social Safety Nets (SSNs) are type of
interventions implemented by the government for protection of the marginalized segment of the society including persons with disabilities against. SSNs are mostly in the form of cash assistance or assets transfer to the poorest of the poor in society. These safety nets include unconditional cash transfer, conditional/ co-responsibility cash transfer, school feeding, fee waiver, and in kind transfers. Such initiatives provide assistance in terms of cash, education, skill development, health, and other allied areas to save the families from falling into trap of poverty. This study also narrates barriers e.g. poverty, illiteracy, lack of information etc. through which emerging nations' social safety nets could not reach to PWDs . Disability-specific safety nets can be designed and implemented for PWDs and removal of barriers for their active participation. The main objective of the study is to access the barriers faced by the persons with disabilities and type of social safety nets for persons with disabilities. For the purpose of quantitative information gathering, five hundred disabled persons were selected randomly from data set of Benazir Income Support Program (BISP), Pakistan. Data was further collected with the help of a well-structured interview schedule, and collected data were processed through a statistical package for social sciences. Findings illustrate that social safety nets are helpful for the persons with disabilities and it is necessary to remove barriers so that PWD can become active part of society.