The global climate crisis continues to wreak havoc on nations around the world, with Bangladesh being one of the hardest-hit countries. A recent publication by Germanwatch has brought to light that Bangladesh stands at the seventh position among the top ten nations on the global climate risk index for 2021 -- highlighting the grave danger the country is currently facing.
Over the past two decades, the country has experienced a staggering 185 extreme weather events, resulting in significant losses of up to 3.81% in the per unit GDP. The World Bank predicts that by 2050, climate change will inflict a direct blow to the agricultural GDP of this nation, amounting to a loss of one-third of its current value. This, in turn, will lead to the internal migration of around 13 million people. The sheer scale of this crisis is almost too difficult to comprehend.
These numerical figures serve as a stark reminder that the impact of climate change is not merely a theoretical construct but a concrete and urgent menace to our country. The communities that are bearing the brunt of this crisis are made up of real people, families, and individuals who are struggling to survive in the face of unprecedented challenges.
Climate-induced disasters have far-reaching effects on diverse societal groups, yet a recent United Nations Human Rights report has shed light on the disproportionate hardships faced by persons with disabilities (PWD). With less capacity to cope with extreme weather events and limited access to income-generating activities, they are often left trapped in the vicious cycle of poverty and suffering.
According to a joint research conducted by International Institute for Environment and Development, UNDP, and Britain's Kingston University, the rural families in Bangladesh spend approximately Tk 158 billion annually to repair climate damage or take preventive measures. However, bearing this cost is a disproportionate burden for the PWD and their families.
In addition to this financial inability, what is also saddening is that the persons with disabilities have to compete with others over limited resources, making it difficult for them to rebuild their lives after a disaster. The report by the UN also highlights that their comparatively lower level of education, skills training, and accessibility issues leave them behind in terms of employment opportunities, making it even more challenging for them to cope with the impact of climate change.
However, eight policies were put in place that directly address the inclusion of persons with disabilities in disaster management efforts in Bangladesh. These policies include the Rights & Protection of Persons with Disabilities Act (2013), the Standing Orders on Disaster, National Social Security Strategy of Bangladesh (2015), the Disaster Management Act, and others.
Regrettably, despite these policies, there are still major gaps in the inclusion of persons with disabilities in disaster management committees.
Shockingly, in almost 80.3% of cases, persons with disabilities were completely overlooked and not included at all. Even more alarming, in 33.2% of cases, the Disaster Management Committee was completely unaware of the capacities of persons with disabilities, thereby leading to their exclusion from the team.
To ensure that dialogues and discussions authentically reflect the needs of persons with disabilities, it is crucial to prioritize their inclusion in these conversations from the outset. This entails actively inviting and encouraging their participation in relevant committees and dialogues to ensure that their voices are heard and their perspectives are taken into account. In doing so, we can leverage the network of OPD (Organizations for Persons with Disabilities) in Bangladesh.
As we continue to explore ways to mitigate these challenges for persons with disabilities, it is crucial to highlight the importance of education and skills training in empowering this marginalized community.
According to the National Survey on Persons with Disabilities (NSDP) 2021, approximately 4.742 million people (2.8%) in Bangladesh live with some form of disability. Among them, shockingly, only 27.21% of PWD aged between 15 to 65 years old are employed, and a mere 7.30% of them are women.
This represents a clear and urgent need to promote education and skills training among persons with disabilities to enhance their employability and safeguard their livelihoods.
It cannot be denied that both apprenticeship-based skills training and formal education have their merits, depending on an individual's interests and circumstances.
However, what truly sets a successful training program apart is not the type of training but rather the appropriate design of its pedagogy/andragogy, the delivery of high-quality lessons, the provision of accessible infrastructure, and the clear measurement of competencies achieved.
Thus, it is evident that the entire process necessitates the involvement of professionals with different expertise to ensure a comprehensive and effective skills training program.
By synergizing the aforementioned strategies and techniques, we can devise a comprehensive skills training program that will endow individuals with the requisite knowledge and competencies to thrive in the dynamic workforce of today.
Furthermore, we must concurrently strive to augment avenues for their gainful employment, necessitating us to engage in enterprise development, sensitize stakeholders, and establish an inclusive and favourable work milieu.
By implementing these multifaceted measures, we can empower them socioeconomically -- unlocking their full-fledged participation in society whilst obliterating the entrenched systemic barriers that have stymied their progress for far too long.
The data from the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS) on persons with disabilities in Bangladesh underlines the urgency of this issue, and we cannot afford to delay action any longer. By investing in skills training and mainstreaming their participation in the labour market, we can help to build their resilience, uphold their socio-economic standing, and reduce their vulnerability to climate change.
And just to remind ourselves, it is not only a matter of social justice and equity but also a practical necessity if we are to create a more sustainable and inclusive future for all.
Ayesha Islam and Saykat Biswas are development professionals working in the Skills Development Programme at BRAC.
