site.btaDisabled Children's Mothers Protest Inadequate Government Support, Socialist MPs Join Them

Disabled Children's Mothers Protest Inadequate Government Support, Socialist MPs Join Them

Sofia, September 14 (BTA) - Holding a rally outside Parliament Wednesday, mothers of disabled children protested against what they see as inadequate government support. They were joined by the MPs of the Bulgarian Socialist Party (BSP) - Left Bulgaria who left the plenary hall in protest over the failure of the majority to consider their bills on disabled children aid.

BSP leader Kornelia Ninova said 'we are not returning to the legislature until the end of the day'.

Ninova told reporters that they have repeatedly met with parents of disabled children and have prepared and tabled numerous bills - for increasing the support for disabled children and for scrapping the charges for custody cases - as they have promised, but these bills have been shelved and stayed untouched for a year now.

The protesting mothers said they cannot accept government-proposed changes in the legislation which will increase the monthly financing for them but only until the child turns 18. Even though the Social Ministry has promised that children with over 90 per cent of disabilities will be entitled to 930 leva per month, mothers still worry about how they will be able to take care of them when they come of age.

The protesting mothers continue to demand that an electronic register of disabled persons be build.

They threaten to stage a hunger strike outside the government building.