Jalisco Lawmakers Push for Expanded Disability Pension, Citing Equity Concerns
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A critical gap in social support leaves thousands of peopel with disabilities in jalisco without vital financial assistance, prompting a renewed call for state government action.
Jalisco legislators are intensifying pressure on the state government too sign a collaboration agreement with the federal government, a move that would extend the Global Pension for People with Disabilities to all eligible residents, regardless of age. The current system excludes individuals over the age of 29, creating a notable disparity in access to essential resources.
Calls for Inclusive Policy Gain Momentum
Deputy Leonardo almaguer Castañeda has been at the forefront of this push, arguing that expanding the pension is a matter of social inclusion and human rights. He emphasized that the program would eliminate economic barriers and foster greater autonomy for people with disabilities. “This represents significant progress in terms of social inclusion and human rights,” Almaguer castañeda stated, adding that over 5,000 citizen signatures have already been collected in support of the proposal.
The president of the State Congress Board of Directors, Marta Estela Arizmendi Fombona, highlighted the broader national context, noting that 24 other states already provide universal pension access for people with permanent disabilities. “Unfortunately, Jalisco is not yet part of this program, wich leaves thousands of people over 29 years old who also live with a disability and deserve to have opportunities defenseless,” she said.
Impact on Vulnerable Populations
The lack of coverage disproportionately affects a ample segment of the population. deputy Miguel de la Rosa figueroa, president of the MORENA Parliamentary Group, revealed that approximately 112,000 people between the ages of 30 and 64 in Jalisco are currently excluded from the pension. He pledged his party’s support for allocating the necessary resources in the next state budget to address this issue.
“We will be attentive so that, in the next state budget, the necessary resources are allocated to guarantee them this pension,” Figueroa affirmed.
Broad Political Support and Grassroots Mobilization
The proposal has garnered support across the political spectrum. parliamentary groups from FUTURO and HAGAMOS, led by Tonantzin Elusay Cárdenas Méndez and Tonatiuh Bravo Padilla, respectively, have voiced their commitment to prioritizing the rights of people with disabilities.
Federal Deputy José Luis Sánchez González of the PT announced plans for a popular mobilization to demand a lifetime pension, rather than one that terminates at age 29. Érika Pérez García, president of the MORENA State Committee, underscored the scale of the problem, stating that over 380,000 people with disabilities in Jalisco have been “abandoned” by the state’s failure to sign the agreement.MORENA plans to launch a signature-gathering campaign aiming for 100,000 signatures to trigger a popular consultation on the issue. “We are going for one hundred thousand signatures, for one hundred thousand reasons to demand a sensitive government that does not pretend,” Pérez García emphasized.
A diverse group of representatives – Martín Franco Cuevas,Sergio Miguel Martín Castellanos,Itzul Barrera Rodríguez,Tonatiuh Bravo Padilla,Alberto Alfaro García,Alejandro Barragán Sánchez,Mariana Casillas Guerrero,and Candelaria Ochoa Ávalos – participated in the discussions,alongside representatives from disability advocacy groups,all expressing their support for the initiative.
The growing momentum behind this effort signals a rising demand for a more equitable and inclusive social safety net in Jalisco, one that recognizes the inherent dignity and rights of all its citizens.