NEW DELHI: This week 82 men and women with disabilities are showcasing their crafts and entrepreneurship skills and creative talent at the “EKAM Festival” (Entrepreneurship, Knowledge, Awareness, Marketing) organised by the National Handicapped Finance Development Corporation (NHFDC) of the ministry of social justice and empowerment at Baba Kharak Singh Marg in the capital.

Minister for social justice and empowerment Thaawarchand Gehlot said that the festival was an effort to promote entrepreneurship and knowledge among the persons with disabilities (PwDs) and provide marketing opportunities to entrepreneurs among PwDs.

NHFDC is working towards development of a brand and platform for marketing of products of these entrepreneurs under the ‘EKAM’ banner. NHFDC also plans to start an online marketing platform to promote sales and rope in big corporate houses.

The new initiatives of NHFDC launched at the festival include Swavalamban Kendras. These will be PwD owned micro skill training centers throughout the country for skill training of PwDs. These centres will have a capacity to provide quality skill training to around 120 PwDs per year. The PwD owner of the NSK is likely to be earn around Rs 20,000 per month.

Similarly, NHFDC has made arrangement with Sakha Cabs where the PwD owned commercial vehicles will be driven by the women drivers to provide safe taxi options for women, children and commuters who are senior citizens. Such safe cabs are already in operation at New Delhi and Indore Airport. The vehicles here are financed by NHFDC under its scheme.

NHFDC has recently agreed to finance e-carts fitted with RO water dispensing vending machines. These carts will sell water in paper glasses maintaining the hygiene. The carts will be supported in operation by Bharat Jal . The PwD owner is expected to earn Rs 10,000 to Rs 15,000 per month in the operation of these carts.

Minister for micro, small and medium enterprises, Nitin Gadkari in his address at the inaugural of the festival said that the MSME sector has vast potential of employment and self-employment for PwDs. He said women artisans can take advantage of various useful schemes of MSME.

Minister for women and child development and textiles, Smriti Irani said that Indian traditional clothes have a very rich history and are in high demand in our country and abroad and offer vast potential of employment. She added that since women have contributed a lot in the embroidery work, NHFDC should encourage PwDs for entrepreneurship in this sector. She emphasised on coordination among all ministries and department for the welfare of PwDs.

