Mukul Wasnik calls for special efforts to encourage women with disabilities

Zakir Hussein

New Delhi. Shri Mukul Wasnik, Union Minister of Social Justice & Empowerment has called upon the State Channelizing Agencies(SCAs) of National Handicapped Finance & Development Corporation (NHFDC) to make special efforts to encourage women with disabilities to come forward and avail finance assistance under NHFDC Schemes. He informed that NHFDC has given special attention to this and provided 1% rebate on rate of interest to women with disabilities in all its financial schemes. Shri Wasnik stated this while inaugurating a National Conference/ Workshop of State Channelizing Agencies, here today.

The Minister mentioned that NHFDC has provided financial assistance to the tune of Rs. 211.79 crores to about 43194 disabled people since its inception in 1997. He expressed satisfaction over the study conducted by NHFDC in eight States indicating average 80 per cent self employment ventures set up by the persons with Disabilities (PWDs) are ongoing and doing well. He called upon NHFDC to take up its mandate in a big way and work out a comprehensive strategy to reach all the deserving disabled in the country at the earliest. The financial assistance of NHFDC has not only helped the PWDs to improve their earning but also have generated employment to others as in the case of Tamil Nadu where the 335 beneficiaries selected for study are found to have hired 430 persons to run their activities, added the Minister.

He advised the SCAs to involve village sabha for selection of beneficiaries were needy and deserving persons can be identified in terms of disability and educational/vocational background. He said more than 75 per cent disabled persons live in rural areas, involving village sabha would be very useful in the selection process of beneficiary. The SCAs should arrange to provide necessary technical support and marketing platform to the beneficiary to ensure the success of the PWDs. Expressing concern over non-payment of over dues and non-submission of utilization details of the fund flow from NHFDC to the SCAs, the Minister opined that fund flow can be improved with constant monitoring at State Headquarter Level and district level of SCAs. The officers of SCA should regularly visit the beneficiaries and monitor their activities to ensure proper utilization of loans and timely repayment of dues. He called upon SCAs to also play developmental role and utilize the facility of NHFDC for training and capacity building of the PWDs.