DUSHANBE, January 28, 2015, Asia-Plus -- Amendments proposed by the government to the country’s pension law have been derided by MP Shodi Shabdolov, who is also leader of the Communist Party of Tajikistan (CPT).

A regular sitting of the sixth session of the Majlisi Namoyandagon (Tajikistan’s lower house of parliament), presided over by its head, Shukurjon Zuhurov, took place on January 28.  

Speaking at the session, MP Shabdolov called on his colleagues to vote down the amendments offered by the government to the pension law.

He, in particular, called the clauses providing for repeated medical examination of people with disabilities for exact establishment of the disability group “absurd.” 

“Nobody wants to be a person with disability, and I call on you to vote down the amendments in this edition,” Shabdolov stressed.

“You won’t be able to buy even three necessary pills on an average pension of a person with disabilities that is set in Tajikistan at 230.00 somoni,” said CPT leader.  “Besides, the clause providing for repealing establishment of life pension has not a leg to stand on.”

“And in general, let the government allocate a part of money earned from privatization of state-owned properties to improve living conditions of people with disabilities,” Shabdolov stated.   

Representatives of the Ministry of Health and Social Protection noted that in the future, life pensions would be established on the basis of a government’s instruction.

Speaking at the session, the Deputy Minister of Health and Social Protection, Ms. Lola Bobohojiyeva, noted that 163,000 citizens of Tajikistan, including 25,800 children, now receive disability pensions and allowances.

Of 54 parliamentarians participating in the session, 48 voted for the amendments, three parliamentarians voted against the amendments and three parliamentarians abstained from voting.