Our Reporter
Dimapur, Jan. 29 (EMN): The government of Nagaland signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Ministry of Labour and Employment, Government of India to establish a National Career Service Centre for Differently Abled (NCSCDA) at ITI Campus, Kushiabill in Dimapur on Saturday. The MoU was signed by the director of Employment, Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (ESDE), Chiden Yaden, and Assistant Director (Employment) of NCSCDA, Ministry of Labour and Employment, Ram Kishor Sharma at Nagaland Industrial Development Corporation (NIDC) office in Dimapur.
While briefing the journalists, Yaden informed that it might take two to three years to complete the construction of the NCSCDA. So, as a temporary arrangement, the centre will be functioning from the government ITI Campus at Kushiabill, Dimapur, until a permanent NCSDA building is constructed.
Meanwhile, Sharma said that a permanent NCSDA centre will be established for non-formal skill training, career counselling, guidance and placement.
He added the NCSDA in Nagaland will be the 22nd centre in the country. It will be a residential centre and all the expenditure will be taken care of by the government of India, while stipend of INR 2500 per month will also be paid during the training period, he informed.
Sharma also acknowledged the chief minister of Nagaland, Neiphiu Rio, and the government of Nagaland for taking the initiative and making it a reality. He added that the PwD Act had been passed by the Parliament in 2016 and there are around 2.68 crore persons with disabilities in India.
The objective of establishing NCSCDA is to unfold the full potential of persons with disabilities (PwDs); to ascertain their medical, psychological, social, vocational and economic needs, and to mainstream them into the community successfully.
It also aims to identify their needs as well as help them develop rehabilitation plans and to assist them through government and non-government organisations for rehabilitation services.
The vision of establishing NCSCDA is for inclusion of PwDs in the world of work by enhancing their employment through vocational guidance, career counselling, skill development and other rehabilitation support.