The Sahyogi scheme vehicle plies across Jamshedpur. Picture by Bhola Prasad

Jamshedpur, Aug. 26: Parents Association of Mentally Handicapped of Jamshedpur (PAMHJ) today launched a campaign to popularise the newly introduced Sahyogi scheme in the city.

The campaign aims at roping in caregivers to look after physically and mentally challenged people as well as educating parents of children with disability. The PAMHJ has been selected to train the caregivers in the city.

“We have launched a rath (chariot), which will distribute pamphlets in the city, informing people about the new scheme. The Sahyogi scheme launched by the Union ministry of social justice and empowerment will prove a boon for unemployed and unskilled people, the NGO and parents of children with disability,” said P. Babu Rao, the secretary of the PAMHJ.

The caregivers will be given a monthly remuneration and will be specially trained to attend to people with disability, added Rao.

According to him, the service takers will have to pay one-time fee of Rs 1,000 to the PAMHJ for hiring a caregiver. The caregiver will get a salary depending on his or her training and amount of work done at the assigned place.

National Trust under the Union ministry of social justice and empowerment has already provided a fund of over Rs 2 lakh for starting the project. The NGO is set to earn a steady income after the scheme comes into effect.

The training for first batch of 20 caregivers who are already working at the city-based Cheshire Home is slated to begin from September 1. Pamphlets for the campaign contain information on the scheme and how to become a caregiver with the NGO.