BHUBANESWAR: The State Government will construct a 400-bed hostel in Vocational Rehabilitation Centre for Handicapped (VRCH) in next two years, Minister for Social Security and Empowerment for Persons with Disabilities (SSEPD) Prafulla Samal said here on Monday.
At the valedictory function of a training programme for persons with disabilities (PwDs), Samal said the seven-storey hostel will be set up with one-time financial support of Rs 14 crore from the Department of SSEPD.
Principal Secretary Niten Chandra said the department has planned to provide skill development training to 5,000 PWDs every year. A detailed proposal has been submitted to the Centre for allocation of funds, he added.
On the occasion, 29 PwDs were provided with self-employment tool kits sponsored by Odisha Mining Corporation (OMC) while 33 were given away completion certificates.
Speaking on the occasion, Assistant Director (Employment) of VRCH Ram Kishor Sharma said during 2016-17 financial year, 233 PwDs were trained with various skills. The training was provided by VRCH jointly with Department of SSEPD. The Odisha Skill Development Authority (OSDA) sponsored the programme. Among the trained PwDs, 135 were male and 98 female.
Director of Employment and Member Secretary of OSDA G Rajesh and Director of Department of SSEPD Mansi Nimbhal were also present. The VRCH is a body under the Ministry of Labour and Employment.