At the Heart of the News - Disability: Rights Still Theoretical, Reform Awaited

Title: At the Heart of the News - Disability: Rights Still Theoretical, Reform Awaited

The International Day of Persons with Disabilities provided an opportunity to highlight the ongoing challenges: persistent obstacles, exclusions, and bureaucratic delays. Calls for reform are becoming increasingly urgent.

On the occasion of this day, "At the Heart of the News" dedicated its December 3rd episode to the situation of Mauritians living with disabilities, estimated to be over 86,000 according to the latest census.

On set, two guests, Ali Jookhun, founder of U-Link and the Down Syndrome Association, and unionist Ashvin Gudday shared a candid assessment: disability pensions, employment access, mobility, and respect for rights all indicate that the road to an inclusive society is still long. The speakers immediately reacted to the government's announcement of a reform to the disability pension, which includes the introduction of a "hybrid assessment model" aimed at combining medical criteria with functional evaluations.

For Ali Jookhun, this reform is "a cry that has been echoing for over 20 years." He emphasized that many individuals are unjustly excluded from the current system, which is almost exclusively based on a medical threshold of 60% disability. "We cannot reduce a disability to a number. A person who has lost a limb may be excluded even though they cannot work. It’s an injustice," he highlighted.

Ashvin Gudday supported this view, arguing that "the current system creates gaps between categories. Many people find themselves at 59%, and therefore without a pension, despite having significant limitations. A graduated model is necessary," he stated. However, he noted a lack of consultation and called for a "much broader roundtable" with all stakeholders in the sector.

Accessibility: A Structural Delay

The episode extensively discussed accessibility to infrastructures, an ongoing battle. Non-existent ramps, impractical sidewalks, and unsuitable semi-low-floor buses paint a grim picture. Ashvin Gudday notably lamented the lack of continuity in public commitments. "The express metro is accessible, but how do people reach the platform? Nothing is planned coherently. Buses remain unsuitable, and sidewalks are insufficient," he added.

Yaaseen Edoo, a disability activist, conveyed that the obstacles are daily. "If I want to go to the metro, I have to rely on a parent or a taxi. The route to the platform is not secure. Mauritius has yet to integrate accessibility as a fundamental right," he shared from his personal experience.

The guests also addressed various dysfunctions in public buildings, notably the absence of ramps, malfunctioning elevators, and poorly accessible counters, as well as a lack of examples from the State itself.

Employment: An Extremely Low Integration Rate

According to figures discussed on set, only 110 disabled individuals work in the public sector. This figure is deemed "alarming" and "unworthy of a country that speaks of inclusivity." The lack of reforms within the Training and Employment of Disabled Persons Board (TEDPB), viewed as non-functional, was also addressed.

Ali Jookhun reminded that employing disabled individuals requires specialized support, job coaching, and assessments of possible accommodations. "Today, no structure effectively meets these needs," he observed. The guests also tackled the persistent discrimination in the private sector, despite the legal obligation to employ 3% workers with disabilities: a measure seen as "ineffective" due to lack of enforcement and will.

Minister Subron: "We Want to Move Towards an Eco-Socialist Society"

In an interview aired during the second part of the show, Minister Ashok Subron detailed the main points of the upcoming reform. According to him, the new assessment model will rely on 50% medical and 50% functional evaluations to correct the injustices of the current binary system.

He also announced the creation of an Inclusive Living Allowance and the establishment of a multidisciplinary assessment panel. He mentioned the introduction of a one-stop-shop that would include disability pension, parking cards, training, and employability, along with a commitment to progressing towards an "eco-socialist, inclusive society based on human dignity."

However, the minister acknowledged "resistances" and anticipates a gradual implementation, with a phase 1 expected as early as 2026, allowing time for medical guidelines and certificates to be revised and validated.