KUWAIT CITY, Feb 17: MPs Musallam Al-Barrak, Ali Al-Deqbasi, Khalid Al-Tahous, Dr Hassan Jowhar and Al-Saifi Mubarak Al-Saifi on Monday presented a number of proposals, including the amendment of the Housing Care and Disability laws.

On the amendment of the Housing Care Law (47/1993), the lawmakers suggested changes to the second clause of Article 28 to pave the way for granting interest-free loans to citizens and increase the loan amount for buying or building a house from KD 70,000 to KD 100,000.

In their explanatory note, the lawmakers revealed they agreed to present the bill after realizing the need to review some provisions of the law to be in line with the current living condition of citizens, taking into consideration the soaring prices of construction materials and basic commodities.

The lawmakers said those who obtained housing loans prior to the approval of this proposal will be given additional KD 30,000 to ensure equality among citizens.

They also stressed the need to grant housing allowance to a Kuwaiti woman who got divorced from a Kuwaiti husband, provided they have children, those who have never married who are above 41 years old, and the disabled Kuwaiti women who got divorced from non-Kuwaiti husbands.

Relocation
The lawmakers also suggested the relocation of the military camps in areas between Jahra and Saad Al-Abudullah due to their proximity to the residential cities, which the government is currently constructing to address the housing problem in Kuwait. They asserted the land areas occupied by the military camps should be handed over to the Public Authority for Housing Welfare (PAHW).

Meanwhile, the lawmakers also presented a draft bill on revising the first clause of Article One of the Handicapped Law (8/2010) to define the word ‘handicapped’ as follows: “Any person who suffers chronic diseases or deficiencies that lead to the failure of his physical, mental and sensory faculties, making it difficult for him to work or contribute to society on an equal basis with others.”

The lawmakers argued the definition in the existing law is not comprehensive as some people with disabilities have been overlooked; hence, the need to revise the clause to ensure all the handicapped are provided with the necessary care and treatment, in addition to other privileges.

Other proposals submitted by the lawmakers include the formation of a joint committee, consisting of members from the ministries of Education and Finance (State Property Department), to look into the abandoned school buildings, so the government can start the reconstruction or renovation process to accommodate the growing population of students in the country.

They also called for the inclusion of a subject on the Constitution in the secondary stage, in addition to the national education and voluntary work subjects in the schools curricula to inculcate in the youth values like patriotism, democracy and unity.

On the Bedouns issue, the lawmakers asked the Central Committee for Stateless Persons to create a database, which includes information on the children and grandchildren of Bedoun martyrs, those who participated in the Liberation War, the elderly oil sector workers, and those who hold university or higher education certificates.

Moreover, MP Dr Ali Al Omair presented a proposal on increasing the rent allowance granted to Kuwaiti husbands from KD 150 to KD 250 to help them cope with the rising rental fees in the country.

Source: http://www.arabtimesonline.com