Bhubaneswar, May 15: The state government will set up a hostel for persons with disabilities (PWDs) on the premises of the Vocational Rehabilitation Centre for Handicapped here shortly.
The department of social security and empowerment for persons with disabilities will provide Rs 14 crore for the hostel. The hostel will have a capacity of 400 beds.
"The seven-storey hostel will be constructed within two years. It will help differently-abled persons, especially students and working professionals, to avail accommodation facilities," said minister of the department Prafulla Samal.
The announcement was made during a skill development training programme that concluded today. Persons with disabilities were trained with varied skills training such as domestic electrician, accounts assistant using Tally, basic sewing operator, beauty therapy and hair styling, repair and maintenance of personal electronic devices.
Vocational Rehabilitation Centre for Handicapped, along with Odisha Skill Development Authority and the state and central governments, provided the training.
At the event, the participants were provided with completion certificates, while 29 persons were provided self-employment tool kits sponsored by Odisha Mining Corporation. The trained candidates appeared happy with the training programme.
Niten Chandra, secretary of the department, said the state government planned to provide skill development training to 5,000 PwDs every year.
"A detailed proposal has been submitted to the department of empowerment of PwDs, government of India, for allocation of funds," he said. During this 2016-17 financial year, 233 Persons with disabilities have been trained.
Those taking part at these skill development workshops will also be accommodated at the hostel. "It will be completely accessible to facilitate their stay. Also, there will be facilities for food," said Ram Kishor Sharma, assistant director, Vocational Rehabilitation Centre for Handicapped.
"We are hopeful that the Centre will sanction funds very soon. Once it is done we will begin the training immediately in other fields as well," he said.
