- The state government’s initiative will enable persons with disabilities to become self-reliant entrepreneurs, providing business operations and marketing support.
In order to make the disabled people of the state economically strong and self-reliant, Chhattisgarh Handicapped Finance and Development Corporation has taken a big initiative and has set a target of providing loans for self-employment to 11 thousand handicapped people. Along with this, skill development training, entrepreneurship guidance and marketing support will also be provided to the beneficiaries. Chairman of Chhattisgarh Handicapped Finance and Development Corporation, Mr. Lokesh Kavadiya, reviewed the effective implementation of self-employment loan schemes by holding a meeting with the representatives of various banks authorized by National Handicapped Finance and Development Corporation (NDFDC).
Addressing the meeting, Mr. Kavadia said that the state government’s objective is not only to provide financial assistance to the disabled, but also to make them active partners in the state’s development journey by making them successful entrepreneurs. He said that through self-employment, the disabled will be able to earn a livelihood with self-respect and become economically empowered. He informed that skill development training will be made mandatory for every beneficiary receiving self-employment loan. In the training centers being developed by the corporation, along with technical skills, training will be given in financial management, entrepreneurship development and business operations, so that the beneficiaries can run their enterprises successfully.
Mr. Kavadia said that disabled entrepreneurs will also be provided business counseling, regular guidance, and marketing support. The corporation is coordinating with reputable business institutions to enable beneficiaries to establish viable and profitable businesses related to laundry, grocery, ready-made garments, footwear, and daily use items.
At the meeting, the Chief General Manager of the National Disability Finance and Development Corporation (NDFDC) assured full support to all financially viable projects. He stated that NDFDC would provide refinance after loans are approved and disbursed by banks. It was also decided that all loan cases would be processed through the Chhattisgarh Disability Finance and Development Corporation, to create a comprehensive database of beneficiaries and ensure effective monitoring and timely implementation of the schemes.
Representatives from Bank of Baroda, Union Bank of India, Jammu & Kashmir Bank, IDBI Bank, Chhattisgarh State Rural Bank, Apex Bank, Punjab National Bank, Axis Bank, and HDFC Bank participated in the meeting. While appreciating the Corporation’s initiative, the bank representatives suggested issuing detailed guidelines to make the loan disbursal process more simple, transparent, and effective. The Corporation’s Managing Director, General Manager, Advisor, and other senior officials were present at the meeting. This initiative is expected to create new self-employment opportunities for the disabled in the state and also give a new impetus to their social and economic empowerment.
