Nagaland’s solitary PwD training centre faces visibility, infrastructure hurdles

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  NCSC-DA officials with participants at a career seminar organised by Prodigals’ Home in Dimapur on April 25. (EM Images)

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• DIMAPUR — Angun, a 32-year-old English graduate from Tizit in Mon district, had spent four years teaching at a private school when she decided to pursue higher studies in Dimapur. Financial constraints forced her to put her dreams on hold, until a chance encounter redirected her path.
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• While visiting the Dimapur District Disability Rehabilitation Centre (DDRC) to obtain her Unique Disability ID (UDID), she met Lanunungsang, an instructor from a centre she had never heard of: the National Career Service Centre for Differently Abled (NCSC-DA).
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• “I had no idea this centre existed,” Angun admitted. Today, she is enrolled in their computer applications course, receiving a monthly stipend of INR 2,500—a modest sum that helps cover her transportation costs. But her experience also reveals a larger issue: Nagaland’s only dedicated skill training centre for persons with disabilities (PwDs) remains largely unknown.
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• No permanent address
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• Established in 2022 under the Ministry of Labour and Employment, the NCSC-DA was conceptualised as a resource for PwDs seeking vocational training. The centre offers government-recognised certification courses and stipends to individuals with benchmark disabilities of 40% or more.

Also read: Aadhaar barrier for PwDs in Nagaland

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• Yet, despite being allotted nearly three acres of land at Khushiabill, the centre still lacks a permanent facility.
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• “The allotted land is too far from the city, with terrible road connectivity and no public transport access,” said Abdul Saleem TK, the centre’s Rehabilitation Officer. “In other states, these centres have state-run hostels, medical facilities, and proper infrastructure,” he said, adding that the centre has highlighted these issues to the ministry.
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• At present, the NCSC-DA functions through temporary extensions: one at the Deaf Biblical School in Naharbari, another at Christian Higher Secondary School, and a third at Prodigals’ Home. Plans for a fourth extension are underway, but the scattered locations remain largely inaccessible for trainees, particularly those from other districts.
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• Limited courses
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• Since 2022, the centre has offered just two courses: computer applications and secretarial practice. To date, 68 trainees have completed these courses—42 in computer applications and 26 in secretarial work. Of these, 10 have secured placements.
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• While 38 trainees are currently enrolled, the centre’s staff noted that the enrolment has not been “up to the mark.”
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• According to Saleem, the centre is equipped to provide training in other trades too, including woodworking, automobile repair, consumer electronics, knitting, and dressmaking. But these trades have not been introduced due to low enrolment and infrastructure constraints.
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• “Once we have a dedicated and accessible facility,” said Saleem, “we can scale up training, introduce more trades, and support many more people across Nagaland.”
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• At present, the centre continues to operate with just five staff members—two vocational instructors, a rehabilitation officer, a counsellor, and the deputy director. Another career assistant is expected to join soon.
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• Awareness gap and outreach
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• Angun’s lack of awareness about the centre is not unusual, as many PwDs across Nagaland remain unaware of the NCSC-DA’s existence.
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• In an effort to address this, the centre conducts weekly counselling sessions at the DDRC every Thursday. It also collaborates with NGOs like Prodigals’ Home and churches, district-level disability committees, as well as various state departments, to identify potential trainees.
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• Beyond vocational training, the centre partners with the Artificial Limbs Manufacturing Corporation of India (ALIMCO) to conduct assessment camps and mobilise PwDs for the distribution of assistive devices. Saleem said that five such camps have been conducted this year, with distribution slated for the coming months.
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• Marylin, a visually impaired trainee enrolled in the computer applications course, learnt about the centre through Prodigals’ Home. “There are hardly any places like this that offer structured training,” she said.
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• After completing her higher secondary education, Marylin gave up on formal studies due to “discrimination and stigma.” For years, she tried to study independently for competitive exams but struggled to access adequate resources.

Also read: How many are we? The data deficit holding back disability rights in Nagaland

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• “With this training, I feel empowered and better prepared,” she said, adding that she plans to enter the job market after completing her training next month.
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• “We cannot always sit around and expect things to come to us. We need to put in our own effort too,” she added.
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• Educational exclusion?
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• A look into the enrolment trends at the centre reveals that since 2022, only one graduate has enrolled in the centre. Most of the 38 current trainees have not studied beyond Class 10 or 12.
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• “During our outreach programmes, we haven’t come across any PwDs pursuing or having completed their Masters,” said Lanunungsang, one of the instructors. “This could indicate systemic barriers to higher education for PwDs in Nagaland.”
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• He also highlighted the lack of basic educational resources, such as Braille textbooks, as a significant obstacle for visually impaired students.
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• To accommodate varied educational backgrounds, instructors modify the curriculum for each trade. Before training begins, candidates undergo aptitude assessments to determine suitable placements.
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• Making it work
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• Despite these limitations, the centre has been providing life-skills sessions, job readiness guidance, and post-training aptitude tests to help connect candidates to government recruitment opportunities and advise them on applicable reservation categories.
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• Last year, the centre also organised 14 job fairs across the state in partnership with local employers. More such events are planned for this year.
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• For Angun, this support is important as she plans to seek part-time work to fund her B.Ed studies after completing her training in December. “And hopefully, I can go back to teaching again,” she said.
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• This report is facilitated by the Sarthak LIC HFL Initiatives.

Also read: Stitching independence: Naga woman challenges disability stereotypes