The bill, based on a parliamentary proposal, doubles the current allowance of disabled Bahrainis from the minimum of BD50 to at least BD100.

At their weekly session, councillors said that this was the least the country could give to the disabled, considering that even their living conditions couldn't be covered with BD100.

The councillors unanimously voted in favour of the proposal, which they said would ease the burden on the families of the disabled - whether they were the breadwinners or children.

However, Social Development Minister Dr Fatima Al Balooshi said that the bill would be unfair as it would put every disabled person on the same level, despite huge differences in the level of their disabilities.

"The disabled are currently getting allowances ranging from BD70 to BD150 a month and it is unfair to have those with minor disabilities on the same level as those with those with major ones," she told the council.

"It would also put a huge burden on the ministry, since some would get more money than they need."

Dr Al Balooshi said that the bill would double the ministry's annual spending from BD4.1m to BD8.2m.

"Increases should be left to the discretion of the ministry according to individual cases, we are already giving more than the monthly BD50 that we are obliged to give," she said.

Council services committee secretary Dr Shaikh Khalid bin Khalifa Al Khalifa said that the ministry had a surplus in its current budget allocated for the disabled, meant that it would need around BD3m to cover the extra costs, if the payments were given backdated starting January from this year.

"But to ensure that the ministry is prepared, we have mentioned in the law, that new BD100 has to start by January 2011," he said.

"We want to improve the living conditions of the disabled and, trust me, the more support they get the more confident they become that they are important members of the community.

"The needs of the disabled have increased sharply in terms of the cost of living. While the able-bodied get monthly allowances of BD50 to meet inflation, the disabled are not getting any support to cover their special needs."

Council chairman Ali Al Saleh said that the council appreciated Dr Al Balooshi's work towards helping the disabled.

"We thank Dr Al Balooshi, who despite having a different opinion to us on this issue, is keen on providing the disabled with the utmost support possible," he said.

The bill will now be presented to His Majesty King Hamad for ratification.