Question : ENTREPRENEURSHIP AND SKILL DEVELOPMENT OF DIFFERENTLY ABLED PERSONS

(a) The details of the schemes being implemented by the Government for entrepreneurship and skill development of the differently abled persons in the country;

(b) The funds provided and utilized for the purposes along with the number of beneficiaries during each of the last three years and the current year, scheme and State-wise;;

(c) whether the Government has received proposals from various States including Chhattisgarh in this regard; and

(d) if so, the details thereof along with the time by which the said proposals are likely to be cleared by the Government, State-wise?

MINSTER OF SOCIAL JUSTICE & EMPOWERMENT (SHRI THAAWAR CHAND GEHLOT)

(a)to (d) : A statement is laid on the Table of the House.

STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN THE REPLY TO LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO.430 TO BE ANSWERED ON 23.12.2014 REGARDING ENTREPRENEURSHIP AND SKILL DEVELOPMENT OF DIFFERENTLY ABLED PERSONS

(a) Details of the Schemes for Entrepreneurship and Skill Development of Differently Abled People being implemented by the Government:

1. NHFDC: In 1997, the Government set up a Corporation named National Handicapped Finance and Development Corporation (NHFDC) under the administrative control of the Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment for providing financial assistance at concessional rate of interest to Persons with Disabilities (PwD) for self employment. This Corporation also gives skill training grant for Skill Training and Entrepreneurship of PwDs wherein it provides 100% of the total recurring cost of the training programme to the training institutes/organisations. NHFDC also provides stipend @Rs.2000/- per month to the disabled trainees during the training. The training duration ranges from one month to six months. The funds for training programmes of NHFDC are provided through the DDRS and SIPDA schemes and also by internal resources of the Corporation.

2. Deendayal Disabled Rehabilitation Scheme (DDRS): Under Deendayal Disabled Rehabilitation Scheme (DDRS) Vocational Training Centre projects are given financial assistance (up to 90% of the project cost) for skill upgradation of PwDs. These are meant for the age group of 15-35 years to provide skills to enable such persons to move towards economic independence.

3. Skill training through the National Institutes: The seven National Institutes (NIs) under the administrative control of Department of Disability Affairs also organise Vocational Training Programmes for the PwDs in their respective field of disability for appropriate trades.

4. SIPDA (Scheme for Implementation of Persons with Disabilities (Equal Opportunities, Protection of Rights and Full Participation) Act, 1995): Under this scheme, financial assistance is provided to State Governments and to autonomous organizations/Institutions under Central or State Governments, for various activities relating to implementation of Persons with Disabilities Act, 1995. Under this scheme grant-in-aid is provided for the skill development programmes for PwDs with effect from the year 2013-14.

5. Vocational Rehabilitation Centre for Handicapped: The Ministry of Labour & Employment has set up 21 Vocational Rehabilitation Centres for Handicapped (VRCs) at different parts of the country. The main objective of these centers is to impart non formal vocational training and extend vocational rehabilitation assistance to PwDs as per their residual capacities with a view to assist them to lead an independent and productive life in society.

(b): The statement of funds provided and utilised under different schemes is provided in Annexure - A and Annexure- B.

(c)& (d): The statement regarding proposals received from various States including the State of Chhatisgarh and their status is provided in Annexure-C.