MoU inked for NCSC for PwDs

Staff Reporter
Union Ministry of Labour& Employment and State’s Directorate of Employment, Skill Development & Entrepreneurship (ESD&E) have reached an agreement for setting up National Career Service Centre for Differently Abled (NCSC-DA) at Khushiabill here.
A memorandum of understanding (MoU) and lease deed agreeme nt in this regard was signed on Saturday by ESD&E director Chiden Yaden and Ram Kishore Sharma, assistant director and employment and head of NCSC-DA, Directorate General of Employment (DGE) under the Ministry of Labour & Employment, in the presence of L&ESDE, industries &commerce adviser Imnatiba and department officials.
Later, briefing about National Career Service Centre for Differently Abled, Sharma mentioned that DGE had first established NCSCs-DA (erstwhile VRCs for handicapped) at Mumbai and Hyderabad in 1968, and thereafter set up several such centres across the country.
He said there were 21 National Career Service Centres for Differently Abled functioning currently in 20 States, adding that the proposed NCSC-DA at Dimapur would be the 22nd.
He mentioned that the upcoming Dimapur centre would provide various vocational trainings, evaluate persons with disabilities (PWDs) to help unlock their full potential, identify their needs, assist them, create community awareness, social responsibility, work out better coordination and understanding among the rehabilitation agencies and promote rehabilitation services at block, district and State levels.
Further, stating that the Dimapur centre would provide guidance and counselling for training, self-employment, employment and selective placement of persons with disabilities suited to their residual capacities, Sharma added that the target group would be 15-50 years and intake of the first batch would be 20, which would be gradually increased as per demand.
He mentioned that National Career Service Centre for Differently Abled would collaborate with various departments and NGOs, and would be fully funded and managed by the Central government.
He said the Dimapur centre would provide free food &lodging and a stipend of Rs 2,500 per month to the trainees during their training period.
Yaden informed newsmen that 2.87 acre of land had been allotted to the Ministry of Labour & Employment for establishing the centre, adding that land lease agreement for erecting permanent structure was under process.
He mentioned that before completion of the permanent structure, which would take a year or two, the centre would start functioning temporarily from ITI campus located at Khushiabill.
The centre is being established to unfold the full potential of persons with disabilities (PwDs); to ascertain their medical, psychological, social, vocational and economic needs, and to mainstream them into the community successfully.