New skills initiative to provide private sector jobs for differently-abled

State to open 32 vocational centers to enhance skills of differently-abled

C Shivakumar

Chennai:

The state government is opening up 32 vocational centers in 32 districts to enhance the skills of the differently-abled so that they can get jobs in the private sector, according to secretary of differently abled Kannegi Packianathan and  state commissioner of the department P R Sampath.

They told Express here on Saturday that the state, which has three per cent jobs quota for differently abled in the government sector, is also considering to have three per cent reservation for differently abled in the private sector also.

As such plans are on way to have 32 vocational training centers in 32 districts across the stae. The project will be launched in collaboration with ITI before this financial year, said Sampath.

As per the scheme, each district will have a vocational center and the trades will be selected for each district. The training to bosst the skills of the differently-abled will last between three-six months.

Once they complete the training then they will be provided job opportunities in the private sector, said Sampath.

Packianathan said government is allocating five lakh for each NGO to open the vocational center. The training component will be provided by ITI.

She said the scheme will be launched in consultation with the district collector. Sixty persons will be trained in each district according to the scheme.

She also said that the state is the first to provide early intervention services to children with development delays besides hearing impaired and visually impaired. We have 32 centres each for children with development delays, hearing impaired and visually impaired,” she said adding that those with multiple disabilities are being provided with identity cards.