The district administration in collaboration with the Rehabilitation Centre of the Physically Differentiated Persons organised a training programme and loan mela for the differentially able persons with a view to make them self sufficient and help them live with dignity. Such a programme is first of its kind all over the State, the organisers claimed.
Nearly 100 differently able persons, including females and males, young boys and girls, took part in the training programme. Ramkishore Sharma from the Union Ministry of labour and Employment was the resource person who imparted very useful training to the participants.
The training was on how to choose a business that suits their place according to the necessity of the people, utilization of the loan amount and repayment. The nature of business will be tailoring, grocery shop, betel shop, bangles shop, vegetable and rice shop etc. during the training. Sharma, in order to morally boost up the participants, cited the story of a girl –Jessica Cox who could be a successful pilot even though she didn’t have two hands since birth.
Sambalpur Collector Balwant Singh encouraged the trainees and urged them to come out successful in their respective business so that further loan could be given to them to expand their business. He assured of all help from the Government and the banks. Bankers present from SBI, Central Bank of India and others declared the names of the selected persons under the scheme to avail the DRI (differential rate of interest at low cost of 4 percent only) loan and advised them to come to the banks and start their business successfully.
The move was seen as an attempt to instill self confidence in differently abled people and give them hope of a joyful living. The initiative can motivate them to strive for living a life while not depending on others.