The state government said it would lend support to physically challenged persons to start minor businesses by further subsidising interest rates on soft loans.
Inaugurating the awareness programme on the National Handicapped Finance Development Corporation Scheme for persons with disabilities, Sangma said the scheme is one of the opportunities provided by the Centre for empowering the physically challenged. “Schemes like these will make them (the physically challenged) feel that they are not a burden either to their family or society,” Sangma said.
He said handicapped persons in other parts of the state should also be able to avail of the opportunity.
The chief minister urged the implementing department to ensure that the target groups benefit from the scheme. He also said the government would further subsidise all interest components of loans to be availed of by a physically challenged person. The 3 per cent job reservation for persons with disabilities should be taken up in letter and spirit, he added.
The ministry of social justice and empowerment incorporated the objectives of promoting economic development, self-employment and other ventures in the scheme for the benefit and economic rehabilitation of the physically challenged. Extending loans to the physically challenged for upgrade of their entrepreneurial skills, pursuing professional/technical education and assisting them in marketing are the other objectives of the scheme.
The criteria for finance include income-generating activities for the physically challenged with 40 per cent or more disability through the state channelising agency, micro credit to the target group through NGOs and grants for entrepreneurial and skill development schemes.
The Meghalaya Cooperative Apex Bank has been chosen as the channelising agency for Meghalaya and according to its chairperson, Roshan Warjri, all 42 branch managers have been directed to create awareness among people so that the physically challenged can avail of loans.
According to the last census, there are 28,803 physically challenged citizens in the state, of whom 15,317 are men. While there are 22,740 physically challenged in the rural areas, 6,063 are in urban areas.
The awareness programme was organised by the office of the commissioner for persons with disabilities (social welfare department).