The Minister for
Social Justice & Empowerment Dr. Satyanarayan Jatiya has called
for strengthening micro-finance scheme for providing financial
assistance to persons with disabilities for self-employment. Addressing
a Conference of the State Channelising Agencies of the National
Handicapped Finance and Development Corporation (NHFDC) here today,
Dr. Jatiya said that half of the total loan amount should be through
micro-finance scheme. He said that although there is no authentic
data, it can be said 25% persons with disabilities despite having
necessary education and training are without employment. Dr. Jatiya
said that the Government has fixed 3% reservation for employing
persons with disabilities in government and public sector undertakings,
but there is not much scope of generating employment opportunities
in this sector. In view of this creation of opportunities for
self-employment becomes all the more important which needs greater
coordination between the government and the State Channelising
Agencies and NGOs, he added. The Minister said the State Channelising
Agencies will have to play a more pro-active role in identification
of beneficiaries and disbursement of loans to them for setting
up small business, trades and small industrial units. Dr. Jatiya
said holding of this Conference on the eve of the Republic Day
makes it all the more necessary that we must ensure that the handicapped
persons have equal opportunity for progress and live a life of
self respect and fulfillment as envisaged in the Constitution.
The Secretary, Ministry
of Social Justice and Empowerment Shri C. Gopal Reddy said that
the Government has created several institutions like NHFDC to
provide a helping hand to integrate disabled persons with the
mainstream of society. He said that State Channelising Agencies
should show equal enthusiasm in reaching the targeted people.
Expressing displeasure over lukewarm attitude of some State Channelising
Agencies, Shri Reddy said that NHFDC is eager to advance loans
to the needy beneficiaries and the States will have to work hard
to meet this challenge.
The National Handicapped
Finance and Development Corporation has from 11 beneficiaries
in its inception year 1997-98, provided loans to about 10,000
beneficiaries worth Rs.42.22 crore so far. The maximum number
of about 1,800 beneficiaries are in Haryana who have been advanced
over Rs. 8.10 core. Gujarat comes next with more than 1,300 beneficiaries
followed by Orissa with about 1,300 beneficiaries and Madhya Pradesh
with over 1,100 beneficiaries. The loans are provided to persons
with 40% or more disability for promoting their economic development
through financial assistance at concessional interest rates. The
assistance is given for higher education /training, upgradation
of technical and entrepreneurial skills and promotion of self-employment
through State Channelising Agencies by the Corporation. The micro-finance
scheme is operated through NGOs only who have experience of credit
& thrift.
