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| Monday, 1 September 2003 |
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by Nadira Gunatilleke The Social Welfare Ministry has made arrangements to upgrade the living conditions of the visually impaired persons in the country by assisting them to start self employment projects, Social Welfare Ministry Secretary Ms. Viji Jegarasasingam said. She said that visually impaired always suffer from dependable mentality and the guardians of such persons should encourage them to be independent. Under this programme visually impaired persons will be identified through Divisional Secretaries, Social Welfare Officers, Grama Niladharis and volunteers attached to NGOs. These visually impaired persons will be put into groups. Each group will be given a four day vocational training course and then they will be encouraged to select a self employment project according to their wishes. Further training and assistance will be provided through the Social Welfare Ministry, the Small Industries Development Division, Provincial Social Services Departments and Agricultural Departments. These institutions will also function as coordinating bodies. The Visually Impaired Rehabilitation Trust Fund set up at the Social Welfare Ministry will monitor the progress of this project while providing further assistance. The Industrial Development Board, Banks, financial institutions and Non Governmental Organisations will also assist this project. Under this programme awareness among visually impaired and guardians was raised in the Anuradhapura district and it was intended to provide a four day training to 175 beneficiaries in three batches. The identified self employment projects are animal husbandry projects, packeting and selling of spices, selling lottery tickets, mobile trade, file cover making, manufacturing envelopes, bags, mosquito nets, exercise books and sweets. |
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