Awareness Programme on “Loan Schemes Available in Government Departments for Self Employment for Differently-abled Persons” UDIS Forum in association with the District Differently-abled Welfare Office and Avinashilingam Jan Shikshan Sansthan organized an awareness programme on “Loan Schemes Available in Government Departments for Self Employment for Differently-abled Persons” on 30th April 2010 at Avinashilingam Jan Shikshan Sansthan, Coimbatore. A total of 107 persons including Clients, Escorts, Parents, MSW Volunteers and Public attended the programme. Government officials from District Differently-abled Welfare Office, Central Co-operative Bank, Kadhi and Village Industries Board and Tamil Nadu Adi Dravida Housing Development Corporation, Coimbatore represented the meeting as resource persons and delivered talk on self employment promotion to PWDs. Mr. S Sekaran, Executive Director, UDIS Forum welcomed the gathering, Mrs. Jasmine, District Differently-abled Rehabilitation Officer, Coimbatore inaugurated the programme and delivered the inaugural address on Govt. welfare measures available for the persons with different-ability. Mr. L Sivasamy, Assistant Director, District Employment Office, Coimbatore and Mr. V Balasubramaniam, Director, Avinashilingam Jan Shikshan Sansthan, Coimbatore delivered special addresses. Mr. L Sivasamy advised the participants to use the training services as their weapon to enhance the employment skills and abilities. Mr. Balasubramaniam pointed out to use the employment training services which are provided through AJSS for getting job in both Private and Public sectors. Dr. MNG Mani, President, UDIS Forum presided the function and in his presidential address he stressed on the facilities available in Government sector must be utilized by the persons with disabilities and also aware the loan schemes to promote the self employment especially for the persons with disabilities. He also advised them to attend such a programme to collect the information and also convey these massages to fellow people. Following the inauguration the Government Officials narrated the schemes which are functioning exclusive for the PWDs; Mrs. Geetha, Assistant Manager, Central Co-operative Bank, Coimbatore explained on the schemes and its benefits, required documents, rate of interest (lower than other banks) etc., Mr. Viswanathan, Inspector, Khadi and Village Industries Board, Coimbatore explained on the loan schemes available in their Department especially for the rural PWDs. Mr. Harinarayanan, THADCO, Coimbatore elaborated the schemes which are working for disabled SC/ STs. Mrs. Jasmine, DDRO, Coimbatore explained on the Mahaleer Thittam, Loan Schemes available in District Industries Centre and Welfare and Loan schemes provided through the District Differently-abled Welfare Office.· Mrs. Jasmine, DDRO, Coimbatore explained on the Mahaleer Thittam, Loan Schemes available in District Industries Centre and Welfare and Loan schemes provided through the District Differently-abled Welfare Office. After having a small interaction among the participants regarding to loan schemes, the UDIS Forum’s Vice President Mr. Subramaniasiva exhorted them to avail the guidance services from the UIDIS network. He also asked them to undergo required skills training to enhance their ability and capacity to perform a self employment which makes not only to become an employer and also chance to provide employment to other people. Mr. Jeyagopal, CODISSIA, quoted many innovative occupations which could be performed by the persons with disabilities as to become an employer and also assured to provide his guidance for choosing a right career. Mr. IC Gopalsamy, Correspondent, AMRITH (Society for the Aid of the Handicapped) advised PWDs to have self confidence to utilize the good opportunities which are facilitating them for their well being. Mr. Kanagalingam, Rtd. Teacher expressed his views by presenting a “Kavithai” on the services of Dr. MNG Mani, President, UDIS Forum. Mr. Sivasubramaniam, Engineer, Human Resource Trainer attended this programme and advised the differently-abled persons to avail the opportunities and work for their rights. Feedbacks were collected from the participants; the feedbacks revealed that the awareness programme was very much useful and informative to them. They also suggested releasing a handbook on loan schemes available in Govt. departments for self employment to persons with disabilities. The programme ended with a vote of thanks by Mr. Baba, UDIS Forum. ++ Top