All new government homes in Bahrain could soon be specially equipped to cater to the needs of disabled tenants.

The Housing Ministry would have to instal special toilets, kitchens, doorknobs, lighting and other facilities depending on the needs of the recipient, said a report in the Gulf Daily News (GDN), our sister publication.

It previously protested that the plan would hinder its efforts to tackle a social housing backlog, but the Shura Council is expected to rubber stamp the plan and approve urgent amendments to the Housing Law during its weekly session on Sunday (January 11).

The council's public utilities and environment affairs committee has already approved the proposed amendment, which was given the green light by parliament in June, and it is now scheduled for a full vote.

If approved, it will be ratified by His Majesty King Hamad and forwarded to the Cabinet for implementation.

The proposed amendment was originally presented by former Shura Council member and Bahrain Mobility International (BMI) president Muneera Bin Hindi, but the Housing Ministry claimed the amendment would affect its plans to accommodate 47,000 families on housing waiting lists since it would redirect funds.

“We have a maximum of 800 disabled Bahrainis in all categories with light or heavy disabilities, divided between breadwinners and family members,” said committee chairman Faoud Al Haji.

“Whatever the additional cost is, it would not be more than one per cent of what would be spent on each home.

“Even if it exceeded that, under the country's disabled care law the government is obliged to provide assistance.

“All apartment buildings that the ministry has built have ramps and lifts, but the problem is with the units themselves - they are not equipped to cater to an occupant's disability, such as special toilets, kitchens, doorknobs and lighting.

“All corridors should also cater to needs of the disabled, like special metal handrails for the blind to hold while walking.”

Al Haji said the ministry could apply for additional funding from the government if necessary.

“The ministry can ask for more funding from the government - ask the Social Development Ministry for support or any other ministry - but it is responsible for having special facilities in all new homes,” he said.

“We are not engineers or technical experts, we are legislators and all specifics have to be drawn up in the explanatory by-laws that the Housing Ministry will be obliged to prepare later on.” - TradeArabia News Service