Shimla: H.P. Minorities Finance & Development Corporation has disbursed a sum of Rs. 4.51 crore benefiting as many as 461 envisaged beneficiaries for setting up self-employment ventures in the fields of agriculture and allied, technical trades, small business establishments, local artisan and traditional avocations and transport and service sector since 1999 when the Corporation was declared as a State Channelising Agency for National Handicapped Development and Finance Corporation, Faridabad to implement various schemes meant for the welfare of persons with disabilities in the State.
It was stated by Bhim Sen, Principal Secretary for department of Social Justice and Empowerment at one-day workshop on sensitization for implementation of the Persons With Disabilities Act 1995 (PWD Act-1995). He said that for doing distinguished service to handicapped people the HPMFDC was adjudged as their best implementing agency at National level.
Sen further informed that during the current financial year (07-08) the Corporation intends to provide term loan of Rs. 1.26 crore for 105 targetted beneficiaries for setting up self-employment ventures and impart vocational training for capacity building in cutting and tailoring, embroidery and beauty parlour for 40 persons through ITIs Solan and Dharamsala. The Corporation was also organizing awareness camps from time to time to sensitize Gos and NGOs across the State.
Mrs. Anuradha Thakur, Director, Social Justice and Empowerment said that the department was making endeavour to reach out potential beneficiaries in far-flung areas of the State and extending need-based financial assistance to strengthen their economic base. All District Welfare and District Programme Officers had been directed to ensure perfect and timely implementation of welfare schemes being launched for minority communities particularly disabled persons falling within the ambit of PWD Act 1995.
S. Sushil Srivastava, Managing Director, HPMFDC said that under the PWD Act 1995 all physically challenged people were being helped in the areas of education, employment, transportation and free barrier movements in the State, besides reservation of 3 percent quota in government services.
