Government Refuses to Implement It; Increase in Disability Benefits

Weeks after a gathering of individuals with disabilities protesting the non-implementation of Article 27 of the "Support for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities" law, a civil activist stated that the benefit which was supposed to increase by 40% has only increased by 20% after 5 months of effort. Behrouz Morati, a disability rights activist, told ILNA news agency that instead of an increase of 220,000 tomans, only 110,000 tomans have been added to the benefit, which currently stands at 665,000 tomans, and there seems to be no will to pay the 20% difference. According to a promise made by the government, the 550,000 toman benefit for disabled individuals should have reached 770,000 tomans with the parliament's approval, but this meager amount has also been denied, according to this disability rights activist. This civil activist stated to ILNA that "the parliament cannot compel the government to implement the law, and in the meantime, life for persons with disabilities is becoming increasingly difficult." He noted that not only are supportive laws not being implemented, but the rights of disabled individuals are also being diminished daily under various pretexts. In recent months, individuals with disabilities have protested in various cities across Iran against the government's indifference to their demands. One of the demands of this segment of society is the non-implementation of Article 27 of the Disability Support Law. According to Article 27 of this law, the government is obliged to determine the livelihood assistance for severely disabled individuals without jobs or income at the level of the annual minimum wage and allocate the necessary credits in the annual budget laws of the country. This law was passed in 2017, and the government removed the specific budget line for this law in the 2023 budget law. This government action led to widespread protests from disabled individuals and several professional organizations. They have pointed to rising prices, especially the cost of essential hygiene items, demanding the implementation of Article 27 and an improvement in the living conditions of persons with disabilities. Protests by individuals with disabilities against the non-implementation of the disability law took place in front of the judiciary. A group of deaf individuals in Mashhad signed a petition demanding the implementation of Article 27 of the disability law. Protests by disabled individuals in front of the Planning and Budget Organization: "Not charity, not a favor, give us our rights with dignity." Protests by retirees and individuals with disabilities occurred in several cities in Iran. Individuals with disabilities held protests in several cities in Iran. Vahid Rajablu, an entrepreneur assisting in facilitating the lives of disabled individuals, has emigrated to the United States. Individuals with disabilities are protesting the seventh development plan, stating that "20% of beneficiaries are eliminated annually."