1.5 lakh with disabilities enrolled for skill training

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, June 23

The entrepreneur development programme, being run by the Ministry of Labour and Employment under its National Career Service scheme, has managed to get over 1,48,000 youth registered in the region. The nodal centre at the GNDU, one among the three nodal centres in the state, has also completed assessment of six courses to be taught to people with disabilities (PWD), who enroll for employment.

The courses will begin with 85 students under the category in July. Informing about the Project Umeed, under which people with disabilities will be taught skill set required for becoming self reliant, Rahul, the centre operations officer said, “The past one year has been about documentation and registration process. We have completed the online registration process as well and will now begin with our courses and employment programmes for PWDs as well as general category.”

Owing to challenges like lack of data or documentation required to know the exact number of the disabled in the district, the registration process is being done through online portal at the centre. “The problem is that some of the families with disabled children do not want them to work due to social stigma or fear of failure. Also, there is not much awareness regarding the need for self reliance for disabled in rural areas,” he says. They also run a counseling to try and change the mindsets of families and youngsters.

Serving as the region’s only employment exchange for the physically and the intellectually challenged, the National Career Centre focuses on training, skill development, internships and offering vocational training courses in technical and non-technical fields to the youth. “All the information regarding registered youngsters and their skills has been put on our web portal, through which the potential employers can gather their details and offer them jobs accordingly. Since it’s mandatory for corporate houses to hire 4% staff under the PWD category, there is a big market for skilled youngsters, who overcome their physical limitations to earn a living,” he said.

They have already helped youngsters with disabilities to get jobs under the scheme.

They also have a toll free helping number (18004251514) for PWDs to get registered through phone.