Instead of giving answers, things became more complicated, with the disability bill, on the one hand, making its way to its article-by-article discussion by the parliamentary Labour Committee and on the other hand, remaining in the process of discussing the principle since the voices of protest on the part of organizations and associations have not yet subsided.
The only thing that seems to have been clarified is the fact that the 10,000 people who currently do not receive any aid and through the legislation will become beneficiaries, will not start benefiting with the adoption of the new law but will be included in the various plans per category, on the basis of criteria and through decisions of the Council of Ministers over a period of three years.
In the same way, the increases in existing allowances will be given over a three-year period and on the basis of the availability of the relevant funds, on a case-by-case basis.
On the positive side, the Government seems to have adopted some of the requests of organizations and associations with the Deputy Minister of Social Welfare, who participated in yesterday's extraordinary meeting of the competent parliamentary Committee, to proceed with relevant announcements.
The changes, however, that the Government intends to proceed with, do not seem to fully meet the demands of disabled people and MPs, with the meeting being held in an atmosphere of tension and disagreements.
In fact, tension was also caused between the president of the Committee, Andreas Kafkalias, and the general director of the Deputy Ministry, Giannis Nikolaidis.
The reason for the controversy that embarrassed Klea Papaellina was Andreas Kafkalias' remark, "we should not tell the world that with the passing of the law, 10,000 people with disabilities will start receiving benefits because this will not happen".
Mr. Kafkalias referred to the condition for the Council of Ministers to take relevant decisions and asked the Deputy Minister and the General Director of the Deputy Ministry whether he understands the bill "correctly".
"But now let's start discussing the same things. I have been in the Service for 30 years and I come to Parliament and I clearly see an intention not to promote the bill. Okay, let's say that you made your effort, let's leave it up to here," said Mr. Nikolaidis, with the president of the Commission insisting and himself replying "I don't bother anymore".
The answer on how the new beneficiaries will be included in the relevant programs and allowances was finally given by the Deputy Minister.
Restrictions for over 65 years of age are removed
According to what the Deputy Minister of Social Welfare announced, "the Government, recording the comments and requests of the disabled organizations, decided to proceed with specific changes to the bill".
Specifically:
– The restrictions that currently exist and concern people over 65 years of age are deleted. The benefits will continue to be granted after the age of 65.
– The right to buy a car will be extended to 77 years of age with the parallel deletion of the requirement to have a driver's license.
– The start date of the right to secure benefits will be calculated from the day of submission of the application and not from the day of evaluation.
Ms. Papaellina called on the MPs to proceed with the article-by-article discussion with the aim of passing the law before the dissolution of Parliament for the parliamentary elections, stressing that "during the article-by-article discussion we will be here together to see the comments again, to discuss, to change and to make improvements where necessary".
The announcements of the deputy minister, as it turned out, did not satisfy specific organizations, with the president of the organization of parents of children with special needs even pointing out that "children are left out again" and declaring a strong disagreement with the bill.
In the end, the Committee decided that next Tuesday the meeting will begin with a new discussion on the principle and then the start of the process of the article-by-article study of the bill will follow.
