YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 13, NOYAN TAPAN. This year compared with 2004 the number of disabled registered in Armenia increased by 17000 and made over 135 thousand, 8000 out of which are children aged below 18 years. As Noyan Tapan's correspondent was informed by Jemma Baghdasarian, Head of the Department on Disabled and Old People's Problems of RA Ministry of Labor and Social Issues, this is conditioned by the fact that this year all non-registered disabled were registered. Only 55% of age is able-bodied in the total number of disabled, but only 8% of them are employed. According to J.Baghdasarian, RA bill "On Population's Employment" was worked out and submitted to RA government this year. The bill, in particular, envisages to give subsidies to employers from the state budget in the amount of 50% of the minimum salary. The subsidies will be given for the salaries of disabled people. To recap, at present the minimum salary in RA is equal to 13 thousand drams (nearly 29 USD). It was mentioned that nearly 550 mln drams was allocated by 2005 state budget for getting prosthetic-orthopaedic, rehabilitation appliances and repair of prosthetic appliances. 649.5 mln drams will be allocated from 2006 state budget for this purpose. J.Baghdasarian also informed that the disabled enjoy privileges established by RA legislation: the disabled of first and second group use urban electric transport free of charge, medical aid and medical service are rendered to all disabled within the framework of state order, the disabled of first and second group get medicines free of charge and those of third group with a 50% discount.

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