By The Pulseline News Desk
A severe funding gap in the National Fund for Persons with Disabilities has placed a key housing assistance programme in jeopardy, according to the latest report issued by the National Audit Office (NAO).
The audit report, attached to the 2024 Annual Report of the National Fund for Persons with Disabilities, has revealed that while the fund was expected to receive more than Rs. 150 million, only nearly Rs. 20 million had actually been received. Auditors have warned that the shortfall has significantly undermined the ability of authorities to fulfill the objectives of the housing assistance initiative designed to support persons with disabilities.
The findings raise concerns about the sustainability of welfare programmes intended for some of the country’s most vulnerable communities, particularly at a time when many families continue to face economic hardship and rising living costs.
The housing assistance programme was expected to provide relief to disabled individuals requiring safer and more accessible living conditions. However, the audit has suggested that inadequate financial inflows have severely limited implementation efforts, leaving planned assistance targets unmet.
Beyond the funding concerns, the report has also pointed to broader issues in public administration and financial management. According to the audit, resources under the Presidential Secretariat have not been procured or utilised economically, efficiently, and effectively within stipulated timeframes or in accordance with relevant laws and regulations.
The observations have highlighted persistent governance and accountability challenges within state institutions handling public funds and welfare-related programmes.
Advocates for disability rights have repeatedly stressed the importance of reliable government support systems, noting that interruptions to housing and social assistance programmes disproportionately affect individuals already facing barriers to employment, healthcare, and mobility.
The audit findings are likely to intensify calls for stronger oversight, improved financial planning, and timely allocation of funds to ensure that programmes targeting persons with disabilities achieve their intended outcomes.
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