Kiraki: There aren’t concrete criteria for deciding disability group (video)
As of July 1, 2016, 202.839 people with disabilities are registered in Armenia; this number has increased compared to previous years. In Armenia a person’s disability is recognized only as a result of medical-social examination. At the end of last year the National Security Service arrested employees of the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs on suspicion of taking bribe. It turned out that at the medical-social examination agency for a long time corruption scheme had operated, through which officials took bribe from the citizens for providing group of disability. After that there were new arrests. Then it was announced that new rules must be developed in order to maximally decrease corruption risks. Those activities have been underway starting from the beginning of this year. According to the current rules, there aren’t any concrete standards for provision of group of disability. The process is carried out by the committees, and in case of human factor, subjective approach cannot be excluded. As a result of use of new model of provision of group of disability, a part of people with disabilities may be deprived of the status of disability and its privileges. Our colleagues from Gyumri “Tsayg” and Vanadzor “Lori” prepared materials for Kiraki (Sunday) program.
